Na podlagi druge alinee prvega odstavka 107. člena in prvega odstavka 91. člena Ustave Republike Slovenije izdajam
U K A Z
o razglasitvi Zakona o ratifikaciji Konvencije Združenih narodov o boju proti dezertifikaciji v tistih državah, ki doživljajo hudo sušo in/ali dezertifikacijo, zlasti v Afriki (MKZNBPD)
Razglašam Zakon o ratifikaciji Konvencije Združenih narodov o boju proti dezertifikaciji v tistih državah, ki doživljajo hudo sušo in/ali dezertifikacijo, zlasti v Afriki (MKZNBPD), ki ga je sprejel Državni zbor Republike Slovenije na seji 24. maja 2001.
Št. 001-22-63/01
Ljubljana, dne 1. junija 2001
Predsednik
Republike Slovenije
Milan Kučan l. r.
Z A K O N
O RATIFIKACIJI KONVENCIJE ZDRUŽENIH NARODOV O BOJU PROTI DEZERTIFIKACIJI V TISTIH DRŽAVAH, KI DOŽIVLJAJO HUDO SUŠO IN/ALI DEZERTIFIKACIJO, ZLASTI V AFRIKI (MKZNBPD)
1. člen
Ratificira se Konvencija Združenih narodov o boju proti dezertifikaciji v tistih državah, ki doživljajo hudo sušo in/ali dezertifikacijo, zlasti v Afriki, sprejeta 17. junija 1994 v Parizu.
2. člen
Konvencija se v izvirniku v angleškem jeziku in v prevodu v slovenski jezik glasi:
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION
TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN COUNTRIES EXPERIENCING SERIOUS DROUGHT AND/OR DESERTIFICATION, PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA
The Parties to this Convention,
Affirming that human beings in affected or threatened areas are at the centre of concerns to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought,
Reflecting the urgent concern of the international community, including States and international organizations, about the adverse impacts of desertification and drought,
Aware that arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas together account for a significant proportion of the Earth’s land area and are the habitat and source of livelihood for a large segment of its population,
Acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world and that joint action of the international community is needed to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought,
Noting the high concentration of developing countries, notably the least developed countries, among those experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, and the particularly tragic consequences of these phenomena in Africa,
Noting also that desertification is caused by complex interactions among physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors,
Considering the impact of trade and relevant aspects of international economic relations on the ability of affected countries to combat desertification adequately,
Conscious that sustainable economic growth, social development and poverty eradication are priorities of affected developing countries, particularly in Africa, and are essential to meeting sustainability objectives,
Mindful that desertification and drought affect sustainable development through their interrelationships with important social problems such as poverty, poor health and nutrition, lack of food security, and those arising from migration, displacement of persons and demographic dynamics,
Appreciating the significance of the past efforts and experience of States and international organizations in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, particularly in implementing the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification which was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Desertification in 1977,
Realizing that, despite efforts in the past, progress in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought has not met expectations and that a new and more effective approach is needed at all levels within the framework of sustainable development,
Recognizing the validity and relevance of decisions adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly of Agenda 21 and its chapter 12, which provide a basis for combating desertification,
Reaffirming in this light the commitments of developed countries as contained in paragraph 13 of chapter 33 of Agenda 21,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 47/188, particularly the priority in it prescribed for Africa, and all other relevant United Nations resolutions, decisions and programmes on desertification and drought, as well as relevant declarations by African countries and those from other regions,
Reaffirming the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development which states, in its Principle 2, that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,
Recognizing that national Governments play a critical role in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought and that progress in that respect depends on local implementation of action programmes in affected areas,
Recognizing also the importance and necessity of international cooperation and partnership in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought,
Recognizing further the importance of the provision to affected developing countries, particularly in Africa, of effective means, inter alia substantial financial resources, including new and additional funding, and access to technology, without which it will be difficult for them to implement fully their commitments under this Convention,
Expressing concern over the impact of desertification and drought on affected countries in Central Asia and the Transcaucasus,
Stressing the important role played by women in regions affected by desertification and/or drought, particularly in rural areas of developing countries, and the importance of ensuring the full participation of both men and women at all levels in programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought,
Emphasizing the special role of non-governmental organizations and other major groups in programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought,
Bearing in mind the relationship between desertification and other environmental problems of global dimension facing the international and national communities,
Bearing also in mind the contribution that combating desertification can make to achieving the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other related environmental conventions,
Believing that strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought will be most effective if they are based on sound systematic observation and rigorous scientific knowledge and if they are continuously re-evaluated,
Recognizing the urgent need to improve the effectiveness and coordination of international cooperation to facilitate the implementation of national plans and priorities,
Determined to take appropriate action in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought for the benefit of present and future generations,
Have agreed as follows:
PART I
INTRODUCTION
Article 1
Use of terms
For the purposes of this Convention:
(a) “desertification“ means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities;
(b) “combating desertification“ includes activities which are part of the integrated development of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas for sustainable development which are aimed at:
(i) prevention and/or reduction of land degradation;
(ii) rehabilitation of partly degraded land; and
(iii) reclamation of desertified land;
(c) “drought“ means the naturally occurring phenomenon that exists when precipitation has been significantly below normal recorded levels, causing serious hydrological imbalances that adversely affect land resource production systems;
(d) “mitigating the effects of drought“ means activities related to the prediction of drought and intended to reduce the vulnerability of society and natural systems to drought as it relates to combating desertification;
(e) “land“ means the terrestrial bio-productive system that comprises soil, vegetation, other biota, and the ecological and hydrological processes that operate within the system;
(f) “land degradation“ means reduction or loss, in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rainfed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands resulting from land uses or from a process or combination of processes, including processes arising from human activities and habitation patterns, such as:
(i) soil erosion caused by wind and/or water;
(ii) deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological or economic properties of soil; and
(iii) long-term loss of natural vegetation;
(g) “arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas“ means areas, other than polar and sub-polar regions, in which the ratio of annual precipitation to potential evapotranspiration falls within the range from 0.05 to 0.65;
(h) “affected areas“ means arid, semi-arid and/or dry sub-humid areas affected or threatened by desertification;
(i) “affected countries“ means countries whose lands include, in whole or in part, affected areas;
(j) “regional economic integration organization“ means an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region which has competence in respect of matters governed by this Convention and has been duly authorized, in accordance with its internal procedures, to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to this Convention;
(k) “developed country Parties“ means developed country Parties and regional economic integration organizations constituted by developed countries.
Article 2
Objective
1. The objective of this Convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.
2. Achieving this objective will involve long-term integrated strategies that focus simultaneously, in affected areas, on improved productivity of land, and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources, leading to improved living conditions, in particular at the community level.
Article 3
Principles
In order to achieve the objective of this Convention and to implement its provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the following:
(a) the Parties should ensure that decisions on the design and implementation of programmes to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought are taken with the participation of populations and local communities and that an enabling environment is created at higher levels to facilitate action at national and local levels;
(b) the Parties should, in a spirit of international solidarity and partnership, improve cooperation and coordination at subregional, regional and international levels, and better focus financial, human, organizational and technical resources where they are needed;
(c) the Parties should develop, in a spirit of partnership, cooperation among all levels of government, communities, non-governmental organizations and landholders to establish a better understanding of the nature and value of land and scarce water resources in affected areas and to work towards their sustainable use; and
(d) the Parties should take into full consideration the special needs and circumstances of affected developing country Parties, particularly the least developed among them.
PART II
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 4
General obligations
1. The Parties shall implement their obligations under this Convention, individually or jointly, either through existing or prospective bilateral and multilateral arrangements or a combination thereof, as appropriate, emphasizing the need to coordinate efforts and develop a coherent long-term strategy at all levels.
2. In pursuing the objective of this Convention, the Parties shall:
(a) adopt an integrated approach addressing the physical, biological and socio-economic aspects of the processes of desertification and drought;
(b) give due attention, within the relevant international and regional bodies, to the situation of affected developing country Parties with regard to international trade, marketing arrangements and debt with a view to establishing an enabling international economic environment conducive to the promotion of sustainable development;
(c) integrate strategies for poverty eradication into efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(d) promote cooperation among affected country Parties in the fields of environmental protection and the conservation of land and water resources, as they relate to desertification and drought;
(e) strengthen subregional, regional and international cooperation;
(f) cooperate within relevant intergovernmental organizations;
(g) determine institutional mechanisms, if appropriate, keeping in mind the need to avoid duplication; and
(h) promote the use of existing bilateral and multilateral financial mechanisms and arrangements that mobilize and channel substantial financial resources to affected developing country Parties in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.
3. Affected developing country Parties are eligible for assistance in the implementation of the Convention.
Article 5
Obligations of affected country Parties
In addition to their obligations pursuant to article 4, affected country Parties undertake to:
(a) give due priority to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, and allocate adequate resources in accordance with their circumstances and capabilities;
(b) establish strategies and priorities, within the framework of sustainable development plans and/or policies, to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(c) address the underlying causes of desertification and pay special attention to the socio- economic factors contributing to desertification processes;
(d) promote awareness and facilitate the participation of local populations, particularly women and youth, with the support of non-governmental organizations, in efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought; and
(e) provide an enabling environment by strengthening, as appropriate, relevant existing legislation and, where they do not exist, enacting new laws and establishing long-term policies and action programmes.
Article 6
Obligations of developed country Parties
In addition to their general obligations pursuant to article 4, developed country Parties undertake to:
(a) actively support, as agreed, individually or jointly, the efforts of affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, and the least developed countries, to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(b) provide substantial financial resources and other forms of support to assist affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, effectively to develop and implement their own long-term plans and strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(c) promote the mobilization of new and additional funding pursuant to article 20, paragraph 2 (b);
(d) encourage the mobilization of funding from the private sector and other non-governmental sources; and
(e) promote and facilitate access by affected country Parties, particularly affected developing country Parties, to appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how.
Article 7
Priority for Africa
In implementing this Convention, the Parties shall give priority to affected African country Parties, in the light of the particular situation prevailing in that region, while not neglecting affected developing country Parties in other regions.
Article 8
Relationship with other conventions
1. The Parties shall encourage the coordination of activities carried out under this Convention and, if they are Parties to them, under other relevant international agreements, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, in order to derive maximum benefit from activities under each agreement while avoiding duplication of effort. The Parties shall encourage the conduct of joint programmes, particularly in the fields of research, training, systematic observation and information collection and exchange, to the extent that such activities may contribute to achieving the objectives of the agreements concerned.
2. The provisions of this Convention shall not affect the rights and obligations of any Party deriving from a bilateral, regional or international agreement into which it has entered prior to the entry into force of this Convention for it.
PART III
ACTION PROGRAMMES, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND SUPPORTING MEASURES
Section 1:
Action programmes
Article 9
Basic approach
1. In carrying out their obligations pursuant to article 5, affected developing country Parties and any other affected country Party in the framework of its regional implementation annex or, otherwise, that has notified the Permanent Secretariat in writing of its intention to prepare a national action programme, shall, as appropriate, prepare, make public and implement national action programmes, utilizing and building, to the extent possible, on existing relevant successful plans and programmes, and subregional and regional action programmes, as the central element of the strategy to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. Such programmes shall be updated through a continuing participatory process on the basis of lessons from field action, as well as the results of research. The preparation of national action programmes shall be closely interlinked with other efforts to formulate national policies for sustainable development.
2. In the provision by developed country Parties of different forms of assistance under the terms of article 6, priority shall be given to supporting, as agreed, national, subregional and regional action programmes of affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, either directly or through relevant multilateral organizations or both.
3. The Parties shall encourage organs, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community and non-governmental organizations in a position to cooperate, in accordance with their mandates and capabilities, to support the elaboration, implementation and follow-up of action programmes.
Article 10
National action programmes
1. The purpose of national action programmes is to identify the factors contributing to desertification and practical measures necessary to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought.
2. National action programmes shall specify the respective roles of government, local communities and land users and the resources available and needed. They shall, inter alia:
(a) incorporate long-term strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought, emphasize implementation and be integrated with national policies for sustainable development;
(b) allow for modifications to be made in response to changing circumstances and be sufficiently flexible at the local level to cope with different socio-economic, biological and geo-physical conditions;
(c) give particular attention to the implementation of preventive measures for lands that are not yet degraded or which are only slightly degraded;
(d) enhance national climatological, meteorological and hydrological capabilities and the means to provide for drought early warning;
(e) promote policies and strengthen institutional frameworks which develop cooperation and coordination, in a spirit of partnership, between the donor community, governments at all levels, local populations and community groups, and facilitate access by local populations to appropriate information and technology;
(f) provide for effective participation at the local, national and regional levels of non- governmental organizations and local populations, both women and men, particularly resource users, including farmers and pastoralists and their representative organizations, in policy planning, decision-making, and implementation and review of national action programmes; and
(g) require regular review of, and progress reports on, their implementation.
3. National action programmes may include, inter alia, some or all of the following measures to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought:
(a) establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of early warning systems, including local and national facilities and joint systems at the subregional and regional levels, and mechanisms for assisting environmentally displaced persons;
(b) strengthening of drought preparedness and management, including drought contingency plans at the local, national, subregional and regional levels, which take into consideration seasonal to interannual climate predictions;
(c) establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of food security systems, including storage and marketing facilities, particularly in rural areas;
(d) establishment of alternative livelihood projects that could provide incomes in drought prone areas; and
(e) development of sustainable irrigation programmes for both crops and livestock.
4. Taking into account the circumstances and requirements specific to each affected country Party, national action programmes include, as appropriate, inter alia, measures in some or all of the following priority fields as they relate to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought in affected areas and to their populations: promotion of alternative livelihoods and improvement of national economic environments with a view to strengthening programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty and at ensuring food security; demographic dynamics; sustainable management of natural resources; sustainable agricultural practices; development and efficient use of various energy sources; institutional and legal frameworks; strengthening of capabilities for assessment and systematic observation, including hydrological and meteorological services, and capacity building, education and public awareness.
Article 11
Subregional and regional action programmes
Affected country Parties shall consult and cooperate to prepare, as appropriate, in accordance with relevant regional implementation annexes, subregional and/or regional action programmes to harmonize, complement and increase the efficiency of national programmes. The provisions of article 10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to subregional and regional programmes. Such cooperation may include agreed joint programmes for the sustainable management of transboundary natural resources, scientific and technical cooperation, and strengthening of relevant institutions.
Article 12
International cooperation
Affected country Parties, in collaboration with other Parties and the international community, should cooperate to ensure the promotion of an enabling international environment in the implementation of the Convention. Such cooperation should also cover fields of technology transfer as well as scientific research and development, information collection and dissemination and financial resources.
Article 13
Support for the elaboration and implementation of action programmes
1. Measures to support action programmes pursuant to article 9 include, inter alia:
(a) financial cooperation to provide predictability for action programmes, allowing for necessary long-term planning;
(b) elaboration and use of cooperation mechanisms which better enable support at the local level, including action through non-governmental organizations, in order to promote the replicability of successful pilot programme activities where relevant;
(c) increased flexibility in project design, funding and implementation in keeping with the experimental, iterative approach indicated for participatory action at the local community level; and
(d) as appropriate, administrative and budgetary procedures that increase the efficiency of cooperation and of support programmes.
2. In providing such support to affected developing country Parties, priority shall be given to African country Parties and to least developed country Parties.
Article 14
Coordination in the elaboration and implementation of action programmes
1. The Parties shall work closely together, directly and through relevant intergovernmental organizations, in the elaboration and implementation of action programmes.
2. The Parties shall develop operational mechanisms, particularly at the national and field levels, to ensure the fullest possible coordination among developed country Parties, developing country Parties and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in order to avoid duplication, harmonize interventions and approaches, and maximize the impact of assistance. In affected developing country Parties, priority will be given to coordinating activities related to international cooperation in order to maximize the efficient use of resources, to ensure responsive assistance, and to facilitate the implementation of national action programmes and priorities under this Convention.
Article 15
Regional implementation annexes
Elements for incorporation in action programmes shall be selected and adapted to the socio- economic, geographical and climatic factors applicable to affected country Parties or regions, as well as to their level of development. Guidelines for the preparation of action programmes and their exact focus and content for particular subregions and regions are set out in the regional implementation annexes.
Section 2:
Scientific and technical cooperation
Article 16
Information collection, analysis and exchange
The Parties agree, according to their respective capabilities, to integrate and coordinate the collection, analysis and exchange of relevant short term and long term data and information to ensure systematic observation of land degradation in affected areas and to understand better and assess the processes and effects of drought and desertification. This would help accomplish, inter alia, early warning and advance planning for periods of adverse climatic variation in a form suited for practical application by users at all levels, including especially local populations. To this end, they shall, as appropriate:
(a) facilitate and strengthen the functioning of the global network of institutions and facilities for the collection, analysis and exchange of information, as well as for systematic observation at all levels, which shall, inter alia:
(i) aim to use compatible standards and systems;
(ii) encompass relevant data and stations, including in remote areas;
(iii) use and disseminate modern technology for data collection, transmission and assessment on land degradation; and
(iv) link national, subregional and regional data and information centres more closely with global information sources;
(b) ensure that the collection, analysis and exchange of information address the needs of local communities and those of decision makers, with a view to resolving specific problems, and that local communities are involved in these activities;
(c) support and further develop bilateral and multilateral programmes and projects aimed at defining, conducting, assessing and financing the collection, analysis and exchange of data and information, including, inter alia, integrated sets of physical, biological, social and economic indicators;
(d) make full use of the expertise of competent intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, particularly to disseminate relevant information and experiences among target groups in different regions;
(e) give full weight to the collection, analysis and exchange of socio-economic data, and their integration with physical and biological data;
(f) exchange and make fully, openly and promptly available information from all publicly available sources relevant to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought; and
(g) subject to their respective national legislation and/or policies, exchange information on local and traditional knowledge, ensuring adequate protection for it and providing appropriate return from the benefits derived from it, on an equitable basis and on mutually agreed terms, to the local populations concerned.
Article 17
Research and development
1. The Parties undertake, according to their respective capabilities, to promote technical and scientific cooperation in the fields of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought through appropriate national, subregional, regional and international institutions. To this end, they shall support research activities that:
(a) contribute to increased knowledge of the processes leading to desertification and drought and the impact of, and distinction between, causal factors, both natural and human, with a view to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, and achieving improved productivity as well as sustainable use and management of resources;
(b) respond to well defined objectives, address the specific needs of local populations and lead to the identification and implementation of solutions that improve the living standards of people in affected areas;
(c) protect, integrate, enhance and validate traditional and local knowledge, know-how and practices, ensuring, subject to their respective national legislation and/or policies, that the owners of that knowledge will directly benefit on an equitable basis and on mutually agreed terms from any commercial utilization of it or from any technological development derived from that knowledge;
(d) develop and strengthen national, subregional and regional research capabilities in affected developing country Parties, particularly in Africa, including the development of local skills and the strengthening of appropriate capacities, especially in countries with a weak research base, giving particular attention to multidisciplinary and participative socio- economic research;
(e) take into account, where relevant, the relationship between poverty, migration caused by environmental factors, and desertification;
(f) promote the conduct of joint research programmes between national, subregional, regional and international research organizations, in both the public and private sectors, for the development of improved, affordable and accessible technologies for sustainable development through effective participation of local populations and communities; and
(g) enhance the availability of water resources in affected areas, by means of, inter alia, cloud-seeding.
2. Research priorities for particular regions and subregions, reflecting different local conditions, should be included in action programmes. The Conference of the Parties shall review research priorities periodically on the advice of the Committee on Science and Technology.
Article 18
Transfer, acquisition, adaptation and development of technology
1. The Parties undertake, as mutually agreed and in accordance with their respective national legislation and/or policies, to promote, finance and/or facilitate the financing of the transfer, acquisition, adaptation and development of environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable technologies relevant to combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. Such cooperation shall be conducted bilaterally or multilaterally, as appropriate, making full use of the expertise of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Parties shall, in particular:
(a) fully utilize relevant existing national, subregional, regional and international information systems and clearing-houses for the dissemination of information on available technologies, their sources, their environmental risks and the broad terms under which they may be acquired;
(b) facilitate access, in particular by affected developing country Parties, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, to technologies most suitable to practical application for specific needs of local populations, paying special attention to the social, cultural, economic and environmental impact of such technology;
(c) facilitate technology cooperation among affected country Parties through financial assistance or other appropriate means;
(d) extend technology cooperation with affected developing country Parties, including, where relevant, joint ventures, especially to sectors which foster alternative livelihoods; and
(e) take appropriate measures to create domestic market conditions and incentives, fiscal or otherwise, conducive to the development, transfer, acquisition and adaptation of suitable technology, knowledge, know-how and practices, including measures to ensure adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights.
2. The Parties shall, according to their respective capabilities, and subject to their respective national legislation and/or policies, protect, promote and use in particular relevant traditional and local technology, knowledge, know-how and practices and, to that end, they undertake to:
(a) make inventories of such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices and their potential uses with the participation of local populations, and disseminate such information, where appropriate, in cooperation with relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations;
(b) ensure that such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices are adequately protected and that local populations benefit directly, on an equitable basis and as mutually agreed, from any commercial utilization of them or from any technological development derived therefrom;
(c) encourage and actively support the improvement and dissemination of such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices or of the development of new technology based on them; and
(d) facilitate, as appropriate, the adaptation of such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices to wide use and integrate them with modern technology, as appropriate.
Section 3:
Supporting measures
Article 19
Capacity building, education and public awareness
1. The Parties recognize the significance of capacity building — that is to say, institution building, training and development of relevant local and national capacities — in efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. They shall promote, as appropriate, capacity- building:
(a) through the full participation at all levels of local people, particularly at the local level, especially women and youth, with the cooperation of non-governmental and local organizations;
(b) by strengthening training and research capacity at the national level in the field of desertification and drought;
(c) by establishing and/or strengthening support and extension services to disseminate relevant technology methods and techniques more effectively, and by training field agents and members of rural organizations in participatory approaches for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources;
(d) by fostering the use and dissemination of the knowledge, know-how and practices of local people in technical cooperation programmes, wherever possible;
(e) by adapting, where necessary, relevant environmentally sound technology and traditional methods of agriculture and pastoralism to modern socio-economic conditions;
(f) by providing appropriate training and technology in the use of alternative energy sources, particularly renewable energy resources, aimed particularly at reducing dependence on wood for fuel;
(g) through cooperation, as mutually agreed, to strengthen the capacity of affected developing country Parties to develop and implement programmes in the field of collection, analysis and exchange of information pursuant to article 16;
(h) through innovative ways of promoting alternative livelihoods, including training in new skills;
(i) by training of decision makers, managers, and personnel who are responsible for the collection and analysis of data for the dissemination and use of early warning information on drought conditions and for food production;
(j) through more effective operation of existing national institutions and legal frameworks and, where necessary, creation of new ones, along with strengthening of strategic planning and management; and
(k) by means of exchange visitor programmes to enhance capacity building in affected country Parties through a long-term, interactive process of learning and study.
2. Affected developing country Parties shall conduct, in cooperation with other Parties and competent intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, an interdisciplinary review of available capacity and facilities at the local and national levels, and the potential for strengthening them.
3. The Parties shall cooperate with each other and through competent intergovernmental organizations, as well as with non-governmental organizations, in undertaking and supporting public awareness and educational programmes in both affected and, where relevant, unaffected country Parties to promote understanding of the causes and effects of desertification and drought and of the importance of meeting the objective of this Convention. To that end, they shall:
(a) organize awareness campaigns for the general public;
(b) promote, on a permanent basis, access by the public to relevant information, and wide public participation in education and awareness activities;
(c) encourage the establishment of associations that contribute to public awareness;
(d) develop and exchange educational and public awareness material, where possible in local languages, exchange and second experts to train personnel of affected developing country Parties in carrying out relevant education and awareness programmes, and fully utilize relevant educational material available in competent international bodies;
(e) assess educational needs in affected areas, elaborate appropriate school curricula and expand, as needed, educational and adult literacy programmes and opportunities for all, in particular for girls and women, on the identification, conservation and sustainable use and management of the natural resources of affected areas; and
(f) develop interdisciplinary participatory programmes integrating desertification and drought awareness into educational systems and in non-formal, adult, distance and practical educational programmes.
4. The Conference of the Parties shall establish and/or strengthen networks of regional education and training centres to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. These networks shall be coordinated by an institution created or designated for that purpose, in order to train scientific, technical and management personnel and to strengthen existing institutions responsible for education and training in affected country Parties, where appropriate, with a view to harmonizing programmes and to organizing exchanges of experience among them. These networks shall cooperate closely with relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to avoid duplication of effort.
Article 20
Financial resources
1. Given the central importance of financing to the achievement of the objective of the Convention, the Parties, taking into account their capabilities, shall make every effort to ensure that adequate financial resources are available for programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought.
2. In this connection, developed country Parties, while giving priority to affected African country Parties without neglecting affected developing country Parties in other regions, in accordance with article 7, undertake to:
(a) mobilize substantial financial resources, including grants and concessional loans, in order to support the implementation of programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(b) promote the mobilization of adequate, timely and predictable financial resources, including new and additional funding from the Global Environment Facility of the agreed incremental costs of those activities concerning desertification that relate to its four focal areas, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Instrument establishing the Global Environment Facility;
(c) facilitate through international cooperation the transfer of technology, knowledge and know-how; and
(d) explore, in cooperation with affected developing country Parties, innovative methods and incentives for mobilizing and channelling resources, including those of foundations, non- governmental organizations and other private sector entities, particularly debt swaps and other innovative means which increase financing by reducing the external debt burden of affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa.
3. Affected developing country Parties, taking into account their capabilities, undertake to mobilize adequate financial resources for the implementation of their national action programmes.
4. In mobilizing financial resources, the Parties shall seek full use and continued qualitative improvement of all national, bilateral and multilateral funding sources and mechanisms, using consortia, joint programmes and parallel financing, and shall seek to involve private sector funding sources and mechanisms, including those of non-governmental organizations. To this end, the Parties shall fully utilize the operational mechanisms developed pursuant to article 14.
5. In order to mobilize the financial resources necessary for affected developing country Parties to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought, the Parties shall:
(a) rationalize and strengthen the management of resources already allocated for combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought by using them more effectively and efficiently, assessing their successes and shortcomings, removing hindrances to their effective use and, where necessary, reorienting programmes in light of the integrated long- term approach adopted pursuant to this Convention;
(b) give due priority and attention within the governing bodies of multilateral financial institutions, facilities and funds, including regional development banks and funds, to supporting affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, in activities which advance implementation of the Convention, notably action programmes they undertake in the framework of regional implementation annexes; and
(c) examine ways in which regional and subregional cooperation can be strengthened to support efforts undertaken at the national level.
6. Other Parties are encouraged to provide, on a voluntary basis, knowledge, know-how and techniques related to desertification and/or financial resources to affected developing country Parties.
7. The full implementation by affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, of their obligations under the Convention will be greatly assisted by the fulfilment by developed country Parties of their obligations under the Convention, including in particular those regarding financial resources and transfer of technology. In fulfilling their obligations, developed country Parties should take fully into account that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first priorities of affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa.
Article 21
Financial mechanisms
1. The Conference of the Parties shall promote the availability of financial mechanisms and shall encourage such mechanisms to seek to maximize the availability of funding for affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, to implement the Convention. To this end, the Conference of the Parties shall consider for adoption inter alia approaches and policies that:
(a) facilitate the provision of necessary funding at the national, subregional, regional and global levels for activities pursuant to relevant provisions of the Convention;
(b) promote multiple-source funding approaches, mechanisms and arrangements and their assessment, consistent with article 20;
(c) provide on a regular basis, to interested Parties and relevant intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations, information on available sources of funds and on funding patterns in order to facilitate coordination among them;
(d) facilitate the establishment, as appropriate, of mechanisms, such as national desertification funds, including those involving the participation of non-governmental organizations, to channel financial resources rapidly and efficiently to the local level in affected developing country Parties; and
(e) strengthen existing funds and financial mechanisms at the subregional and regional levels, particularly in Africa, to support more effectively the implementation of the Convention.
2. The Conference of the Parties shall also encourage the provision, through various mechanisms within the United Nations system and through multilateral financial institutions, of support at the national, subregional and regional levels to activities that enable developing country Parties to meet their obligations under the Convention.
3. Affected developing country Parties shall utilize, and where necessary, establish and/or strengthen, national coordinating mechanisms, integrated in national development programmes, that would ensure the efficient use of all available financial resources. They shall also utilize participatory processes involving non-governmental organizations, local groups and the private sector, in raising funds, in elaborating as well as implementing programmes and in assuring access to funding by groups at the local level. These actions can be enhanced by improved coordination and flexible programming on the part of those providing assistance.
4. In order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial mechanisms, a Global Mechanism to promote actions leading to the mobilization and channelling of substantial financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, on a grant basis, and/or on concessional or other terms, to affected developing country Parties, is hereby established. This Global Mechanism shall function under the authority and guidance of the Conference of the Parties and be accountable to it.
5. The Conference of the Parties shall identify, at its first ordinary session, an organization to house the Global Mechanism. The Conference of the Parties and the organization it has identified shall agree upon modalities for this Global Mechanism to ensure inter alia that such Mechanism:
(a) identifies and draws up an inventory of relevant bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes that are available to implement the Convention;
(b) provides advice, on request, to Parties on innovative methods of financing and sources of financial assistance and on improving the coordination of cooperation activities at the national level;
(c) provides interested Parties and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations with information on available sources of funds and on funding patterns in order to facilitate coordination among them; and
(d) reports to the Conference of the Parties, beginning at its second ordinary session, on its activities.
6. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, make appropriate arrangements with the organization it has identified to house the Global Mechanism for the administrative operations of such Mechanism, drawing to the extent possible on existing budgetary and human resources.
7. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its third ordinary session, review the policies, operational modalities and activities of the Global Mechanism accountable to it pursuant to paragraph 4, taking into account the provisions of article 7. On the basis of this review, it shall consider and take appropriate action.
PART IV
INSTITUTIONS
Article 22
Conference of the Parties
1. A Conference of the Parties is hereby established.
2. The Conference of the Parties is the supreme body of the Convention. It shall make, within its mandate, the decisions necessary to promote its effective implementation. In particular, it shall:
(a) regularly review the implementation of the Convention and the functioning of its institutional arrangements in the light of the experience gained at the national, subregional, regional and international levels and on the basis of the evolution of scientific and technological knowledge;
(b) promote and facilitate the exchange of information on measures adopted by the Parties, and determine the form and timetable for transmitting the information to be submitted pursuant to article 26, review the reports and make recommendations on them;
(c) establish such subsidiary bodies as are deemed necessary for the implementation of the Convention;
(d) review reports submitted by its subsidiary bodies and provide guidance to them;
(e) agree upon and adopt, by consensus, rules of procedure and financial rules for itself and any subsidiary bodies;
(f) adopt amendments to the Convention pursuant to articles 30 and 31;
(g) approve a programme and budget for its activities, including those of its subsidiary bodies, and undertake necessary arrangements for their financing;
(h) as appropriate, seek the cooperation of, and utilize the services of and information provided by, competent bodies or agencies, whether national or international, intergovernmental or non-governmental;
(i) promote and strengthen the relationship with other relevant conventions while avoiding duplication of effort; and
(j) exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the achievement of the objective of the Convention.
3. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, adopt its own rules of procedure, by consensus, which shall include decision-making procedures for matters not already covered by decision-making procedures stipulated in the Convention. Such procedures may include specified majorities required for the adoption of particular decisions.
4. The first session of the Conference of the Parties shall be convened by the interim secretariat referred to in article 35 and shall take place not later than one year after the date of entry into force of the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the Conference of the Parties, the second, third and fourth ordinary sessions shall be held yearly, and thereafter, ordinary sessions shall be held every two years.
5. Extraordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held at such other times as may be decided either by the Conference of the Parties in ordinary session or at the written request of any Party, provided that, within three months of the request being communicated to the Parties by the Permanent Secretariat, it is supported by at least one third of the Parties.
6. At each ordinary session, the Conference of the Parties shall elect a Bureau. The structure and functions of the Bureau shall be determined in the rules of procedure. In appointing the Bureau, due regard shall be paid to the need to ensure equitable geographical distribution and adequate representation of affected country Parties, particularly those in Africa.
7. The United Nations, its specialized agencies and any State member thereof or observers thereto not Party to the Convention, may be represented at sessions of the Conference of the Parties as observers. Any body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-governmental, which is qualified in matters covered by the Convention, and which has informed the Permanent Secretariat of its wish to be represented at a session of the Conference of the Parties as an observer, may be so admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object. The admission and participation of observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure adopted by the Conference of the Parties.
8. The Conference of the Parties may request competent national and international organizations which have relevant expertise to provide it with information relevant to article 16, paragraph (g), article 17, paragraph 1 (c) and article 18, paragraph 2(b).
Article 23
Permanent Secretariat
1. A Permanent Secretariat is hereby established.
2. The functions of the Permanent Secretariat shall be:
(a) to make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies established under the Convention and to provide them with services as required;
(b) to compile and transmit reports submitted to it;
(c) to facilitate assistance to affected developing country Parties, on request, particularly those in Africa, in the compilation and communication of information required under the Convention;
(d) to coordinate its activities with the secretariats of other relevant international bodies and conventions;
(e) to enter, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, into such administrative and contractual arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of its functions;
(f) to prepare reports on the execution of its functions under this Convention and present them to the Conference of the Parties; and
(g) to perform such other secretariat functions as may be determined by the Conference of the Parties.
3. The Conference of the Parties, at its first session, shall designate a Permanent Secretariat and make arrangements for its functioning.
Article 24
Committee on Science and Technology
1. A Committee on Science and Technology is hereby established as a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties to provide it with information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. The Committee shall meet in conjunction with the ordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties and shall be multidisciplinary and open to the participation of all Parties. It shall be composed of government representatives competent in the relevant fields of expertise. The Conference of the Parties shall decide, at its first session, on the terms of reference of the Committee.
2. The Conference of the Parties shall establish and maintain a roster of independent experts with expertise and experience in the relevant fields. The roster shall be based on nominations received in writing from the Parties, taking into account the need for a multidisciplinary approach and broad geographical representation.
3. The Conference of the Parties may, as necessary, appoint ad hoc panels to provide it, through the Committee, with information and advice on specific issues regarding the state of the art in fields of science and technology relevant to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. These panels shall be composed of experts whose names are taken from the roster, taking into account the need for a multidisciplinary approach and broad geographical representation. These experts shall have scientific backgrounds and field experience and shall be appointed by the Conference of the Parties on the recommendation of the Committee. The Conference of the Parties shall decide on the terms of reference and the modalities of work of these panels.
Article 25
Networking of institutions, agencies and bodies
1. The Committee on Science and Technology shall, under the supervision of the Conference of the Parties, make provision for the undertaking of a survey and evaluation of the relevant existing networks, institutions, agencies and bodies willing to become units of a network. Such a network shall support the implementation of the Convention.
2. On the basis of the results of the survey and evaluation referred to in paragraph 1, the Committee on Science and Technology shall make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties on ways and means to facilitate and strengthen networking of the units at the local, national and other levels, with a view to ensuring that the thematic needs set out in articles 16 to 19 are addressed.
3. Taking into account these recommendations, the Conference of the Parties shall:
(a) identify those national, subregional, regional and international units that are most appropriate for networking, and recommend operational procedures, and a time frame, for them; and
(b) identify the units best suited to facilitating and strengthening such networking at all levels.
PART V
PROCEDURES
Article 26
Communication of information
1. Each Party shall communicate to the Conference of the Parties for consideration at its ordinary sessions, through the Permanent Secretariat, reports on the measures which it has taken for the implementation of the Convention. The Conference of the Parties shall determine the timetable for submission and the format of such reports.
2. Affected country Parties shall provide a description of the strategies established pursuant to article 5 and of any relevant information on their implementation.
3. Affected country Parties which implement action programmes pursuant to articles 9 to 15 shall provide a detailed description of the programmes and of their implementation.
4. Any group of affected country Parties may make a joint communication on measures taken at the subregional and/or regional levels in the framework of action programmes.
5. Developed country Parties shall report on measures taken to assist in the preparation and implementation of action programmes, including information on the financial resources they have provided, or are providing, under the Convention.
6. Information communicated pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be transmitted by the Permanent Secretariat as soon as possible to the Conference of the Parties and to any relevant subsidiary body.
7. The Conference of the Parties shall facilitate the provision to affected developing countries, particularly those in Africa, on request, of technical and financial support in compiling and communicating information in accordance with this article, as well as identifying the technical and financial needs associated with action programmes.
Article 27
Measures to resolve questions on implementation
The Conference of the Parties shall consider and adopt procedures and institutional mechanisms for the resolution of questions that may arise with regard to the implementation of the Convention.
Article 28
Settlement of disputes
1. Parties shall settle any dispute between them concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention through negotiation or other peaceful means of their own choice.
2. When ratifying, accepting, approving, or acceding to the Convention, or at any time thereafter, a Party which is not a regional economic integration organization may declare in a written instrument submitted to the Depositary that, in respect of any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes one or both of the following means of dispute settlement as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation:
(a) arbitration in accordance with procedures adopted by the Conference of the Parties in an annex as soon as practicable;
(b) submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice.
3. A Party which is a regional economic integration organization may make a declaration with like effect in relation to arbitration in accordance with the procedure referred to in paragraph 2 (a).
4. A declaration made pursuant to paragraph 2 shall remain in force until it expires in accordance with its terms or until three months after written notice of its revocation has been deposited with the Depositary.
5. The expiry of a declaration, a notice of revocation or a new declaration shall not in any way affect proceedings pending before an arbitral tribunal or the International Court of Justice unless the Parties to the dispute otherwise agree.
6. If the Parties to a dispute have not accepted the same or any procedure pursuant to paragraph 2 and if they have not been able to settle their dispute within twelve months following notification by one Party to another that a dispute exists between them, the dispute shall be submitted to conciliation at the request of any Party to the dispute, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Conference of the Parties in an annex as soon as practicable.
Article 29
Status of annexes
1. Annexes form an integral part of the Convention and, unless expressly provided otherwise, a reference to the Convention also constitutes a reference to its annexes.
2. The Parties shall interpret the provisions of the annexes in a manner that is in conformity with their rights and obligations under the articles of this Convention.
Article 30
Amendments to the Convention
1. Any Party may propose amendments to the Convention.
2. Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted at an ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment shall be communicated to the Parties by the Permanent Secretariat at least six months before the meeting at which it is proposed for adoption. The Permanent Secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the signatories to the Convention.
3. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on any proposed amendment to the Convention by consensus. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, be adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the Parties present and voting at the meeting. The adopted amendment shall be communicated by the Permanent Secretariat to the Depositary, who shall circulate it to all Parties for their ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in respect of an amendment shall be deposited with the Depositary. An amendment adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 shall enter into force for those Parties having accepted it on the ninetieth day after the date of receipt by the Depositary of an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by at least two thirds of the Parties to the Convention which were Parties at the time of the adoption of the amendment.
5. The amendment shall enter into force for any other Party on the ninetieth day after the date on which that Party deposits with the Depositary its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of, or accession to the said amendment.
6. For the purposes of this article and article 31, “Parties present and voting“ means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.
Article 31
Adoption and amendment of annexes
1. Any additional annex to the Convention and any amendment to an annex shall be proposed and adopted in accordance with the procedure for amendment of the Convention set forth in article 30, provided that, in adopting an additional regional implementation annex or amendment to any regional implementation annex, the majority provided for in that article shall include a two-thirds majority vote of the Parties of the region concerned present and voting. The adoption or amendment of an annex shall be communicated by the Depositary to all Parties.
2. An annex, other than an additional regional implementation annex, or an amendment to an annex, other than an amendment to any regional implementation annex, that has been adopted in accordance with paragraph 1, shall enter into force for all Parties to the Convention six months after the date of communication by the Depositary to such Parties of the adoption of such annex or amendment, except for those Parties that have notified the Depositary in writing within that period of their non- acceptance of such annex or amendment. Such annex or amendment shall enter into force for Parties which withdraw their notification of non-acceptance on the ninetieth day after the date on which withdrawal of such notification has been received by the Depositary.
3. An additional regional implementation annex or amendment to any regional implementation annex that has been adopted in accordance with paragraph 1, shall enter into force for all Parties to the Convention six months after the date of the communication by the Depositary to such Parties of the adoption of such annex or amendment, except with respect to:
(a) any Party that has notified the Depositary in writing, within such six month period, of its non-acceptance of that additional regional implementation annex or of the amendment to the regional implementation annex, in which case such annex or amendment shall enter into force for Parties which withdraw their notification of non-acceptance on the ninetieth day after the date on which withdrawal of such notification has been received by the Depositary; and
(b) any Party that has made a declaration with respect to additional regional implementation annexes or amendments to regional implementation annexes in accordance with article 34, paragraph 4, in which case any such annex or amendment shall enter into force for such a Party on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit with the Depositary of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect to such annex or amendment.
4. If the adoption of an annex or an amendment to an annex involves an amendment to the Convention, that annex or amendment to an annex shall not enter into force until such time as the amendment to the Convention enters into force.
Article 32
Right to vote
1. Except as provided for in paragraph 2, each Party to the Convention shall have one vote.
2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to the Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its member States exercises its right, and vice versa.
PART VI
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 33
Signature
This Convention shall be opened for signature at Paris, on 14-15 October 1994, by States Members of the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies or that are Parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice and by regional economic integration organizations. It shall remain open for signature, thereafter, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York until 13 October 1995.
Article 34
Ratification, acceptance, approval and accession
1. The Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States and by regional economic integration organizations. It shall be open for accession from the day after the date on which the Convention is closed for signature. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.
2. Any regional economic integration organization which becomes a Party to the Convention without any of its member States being a Party to the Convention shall be bound by all the obligations under the Convention. Where one or more member States of such an organization are also Party to the Convention, the organization and its member States shall decide on their respective responsibilities for the performance of their obligations under the Convention. In such cases, the organization and the member States shall not be entitled to exercise rights under the Convention concurrently.
3. In their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, regional economic integration organizations shall declare the extent of their competence with respect to the matters governed by the Convention. They shall also promptly inform the Depositary, who shall in turn inform the Parties, of any substantial modification in the extent of their competence.
4. In its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, any Party may declare that, with respect to it, any additional regional implementation annex or any amendment to any regional implementation annex shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.
Article 35
Interim arrangements
The secretariat functions referred to in article 23 will be carried out on an interim basis by the secretariat established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 47/188 of 22 December 1992, until the completion of the first session of the Conference of the Parties.
Article 36
Entry into force
1. The Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit by such State or regional economic integration organization of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
3. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by States members of the organization.
Article 37
Reservations
No reservations may be made to this Convention.
Article 38
Withdrawal
1. At any time after three years from the date on which the Convention has entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from the Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary.
2. Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.
Article 39
Depositary
The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of the Convention.
Article 40
Authentic texts
The original of the present Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect, have signed the present Convention.
DONE AT Paris, this 17th day of June one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four.
ANNEX I
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX FOR AFRICA
Article 1
Scope
This Annex applies to Africa, in relation to each Party and in conformity with the Convention, in particular its article 7, for the purpose of combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought in its arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.
Article 2
Purpose
The purpose of this Annex, at the national, subregional and regional levels in Africa and in the light of its particular conditions, is to:
(a) identify measures and arrangements, including the nature and processes of assistance provided by developed country Parties, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention;
(b) provide for the efficient and practical implementation of the Convention to address conditions specific to Africa; and
(c) promote processes and activities relating to combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought within the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas of Africa.
Article 3
Particular conditions of the African region
In carrying out their obligations under the Convention, the Parties shall, in the implementation of this Annex, adopt a basic approach that takes into consideration the following particular conditions of Africa:
(a) the high proportion of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas;
(b) the substantial number of countries and populations adversely affected by desertification and by the frequent recurrence of severe drought;
(c) the large number of affected countries that are landlocked;
(d) the widespread poverty prevalent in most affected countries, the large number of least developed countries among them, and their need for significant amounts of external assistance, in the form of grants and loans on concessional terms, to pursue their development objectives;
(e) the difficult socio-economic conditions, exacerbated by deteriorating and fluctuating terms of trade, external indebtedness and political instability, which induce internal, regional and international migrations;
(f) the heavy reliance of populations on natural resources for subsistence which, compounded by the effects of demographic trends and factors, a weak technological base and unsustainable production practices, contributes to serious resource degradation;
(g) the insufficient institutional and legal frameworks, the weak infrastructural base and the insufficient scientific, technical and educational capacity, leading to substantial capacity building requirements; and
(h) the central role of actions to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought in the national development priorities of affected African countries.
Article 4
Commitments and obligations of African country Parties
1. In accordance with their respective capabilities, African country Parties undertake to:
(a) adopt the combating of desertification and/or the mitigation of the effects of drought as a central strategy in their efforts to eradicate poverty;
(b) promote regional cooperation and integration, in a spirit of solidarity and partnership based on mutual interest, in programmes and activities to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought;
(c) rationalize and strengthen existing institutions concerned with desertification and drought and involve other existing institutions, as appropriate, in order to make them more effective and to ensure more efficient use of resources;
(d) promote the exchange of information on appropriate technology, knowledge, know-how and practices between and among them; and
(e) develop contingency plans for mitigating the effects of drought in areas degraded by desertification and/or drought.
2. Pursuant to the general and specific obligations set out in articles 4 and 5 of the Convention, affected African country Parties shall aim to:
(a) make appropriate financial allocations from their national budgets consistent with national conditions and capabilities and reflecting the new priority Africa has accorded to the phenomenon of desertification and/or drought;
(b) sustain and strengthen reforms currently in progress toward greater decentralization and resource tenure as well as reinforce participation of local populations and communities; and
(c) identify and mobilize new and additional national financial resources, and expand, as a matter of priority, existing national capabilities and facilities to mobilize domestic financial resources.
Article 5
Commitments and obligations of developed country Parties
1. In fulfilling their obligations pursuant to articles 4, 6 and 7 of the Convention, developed country Parties shall give priority to affected African country Parties and, in this context, shall:
(a) assist them to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought by, inter alia, providing and/or facilitating access to financial and/or other resources, and promoting, financing and/or facilitating the financing of the transfer, adaptation and access to appropriate environmental technologies and know-how, as mutually agreed and in accordance with national policies, taking into account their adoption of poverty eradication as a central strategy;
(b) continue to allocate significant resources and/or increase resources to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought; and
(c) assist them in strengthening capacities to enable them to improve their institutional frameworks, as well as their scientific and technical capabilities, information collection and analysis, and research and development for the purpose of combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought.
2. Other country Parties may provide, on a voluntary basis, technology, knowledge and know-how relating to desertification and/or financial resources, to affected African country Parties. The transfer of such knowledge, know-how and techniques is facilitated by international cooperation.
Article 6
Strategic planning framework for sustainable development
1. National action programmes shall be a central and integral part of a broader process of formulating national policies for the sustainable development of affected African country Parties.
2. A consultative and participatory process involving appropriate levels of government, local populations, communities and non-governmental organizations shall be undertaken to provide guidance on a strategy with flexible planning to allow maximum participation from local populations and communities. As appropriate, bilateral and multilateral assistance agencies may be involved in this process at the request of an affected African country Party.
Article 7
Timetable for preparation of action programmes
Pending entry into force of this Convention, the African country Parties, in cooperation with other members of the international community, as appropriate, shall, to the extent possible, provisionally apply those provisions of the Convention relating to the preparation of national, subregional and regional action programmes.
Article 8
Content of national action programmes
1. Consistent with article 10 of the Convention, the overall strategy of national action programmes shall emphasize integrated local development programmes for affected areas, based on participatory mechanisms and on integration of strategies for poverty eradication into efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. The programmes shall aim at strengthening the capacity of local authorities and ensuring the active involvement of local populations, communities and groups, with emphasis on education and training, mobilization of non-governmental organizations with proven expertise and strengthening of decentralized governmental structures.
2. National action programmes shall, as appropriate, include the following general features:
(a) the use, in developing and implementing national action programmes, of past experiences in combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought, taking into account social, economic and ecological conditions;
(b) the identification of factors contributing to desertification and/or drought and the resources and capacities available and required, and the setting up of appropriate policies and institutional and other responses and measures necessary to combat those phenomena and/or mitigate their effects; and
(c) the increase in participation of local populations and communities, including women, farmers and pastoralists, and delegation to them of more responsibility for management.
3. National action programmes shall also, as appropriate, include the following:
(a) measures to improve the economic environment with a view to eradicating poverty:
(i) increasing incomes and employment opportunities, especially for the poorest members of the community, by:
– developing markets for farm and livestock products;
– creating financial instruments suited to local needs;
– encouraging diversification in agriculture and the setting-up of agricultural enterprises; and
– developing economic activities of a para-agricultural or non- agricultural type;
(ii) improving the long-term prospects of rural economies by the creation of:
– incentives for productive investment and access to the means of production; and
– price and tax policies and commercial practices that promote growth;
(iii) defining and applying population and migration policies to reduce population pressure on land; and
(iv) promoting the use of drought resistant crops and the application of integrated dry- land farming systems for food security purposes;
(b) measures to conserve natural resources:
(i) ensuring integrated and sustainable management of natural resources, including:
– agricultural land and pastoral land;
– vegetation cover and wildlife;
– forests;
– water resources; and
– biological diversity;
(ii) training with regard to, and strengthening, public awareness and environmental education campaigns and disseminating knowledge of techniques relating to the sustainable management of natural resources; and
(iii) ensuring the development and efficient use of diverse energy sources, the promotion of alternative sources of energy, particularly solar energy, wind energy and bio-gas, and specific arrangements for the transfer, acquisition and adaptation of relevant technology to alleviate the pressure on fragile natural resources;
(c) measures to improve institutional organization:
(i) defining the roles and responsibilities of central government and local authorities within the framework of a land use planning policy;
(ii) encouraging a policy of active decentralization, devolving responsibility for management and decision-making to local authorities, and encouraging initiatives and the assumption of responsibility by local communities and the establishment of local structures; and
(iii) adjusting, as appropriate, the institutional and regulatory framework of natural resource management to provide security of land tenure for local populations;
(d) measures to improve knowledge of desertification:
(i) promoting research and the collection, processing and exchange of information on the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of desertification;
(ii) improving national capabilities in research and in the collection, processing, exchange and analysis of information so as to increase understanding and to translate the results of the analysis into operational terms; and
(iii) encouraging the medium and long term study of:
– socio-economic and cultural trends in affected areas;
– qualitative and quantitative trends in natural resources; and
– the interaction between climate and desertification; and
(e) measures to monitor and assess the effects of drought:
(i) developing strategies to evaluate the impacts of natural climate variability on regional drought and desertification and/or to utilize predictions of climate variability on seasonal to interannual time scales in efforts to mitigate the effects of drought;
(ii) improving early warning and response capacity, efficiently managing emergency relief and food aid, and improving food stocking and distribution systems, cattle protection schemes and public works and alternative livelihoods for drought prone areas; and
(iii) monitoring and assessing ecological degradation to provide reliable and timely information on the process and dynamics of resource degradation in order to facilitate better policy formulations and responses.
Article 9
Preparation of national action programmes and implementation and evaluation indicators
Each affected African country Party shall designate an appropriate national coordinating body to function as a catalyst in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of its national action programme. This coordinating body shall, in the light of article 3 and as appropriate:
(a) undertake an identification and review of actions, beginning with a locally driven consultation process, involving local populations and communities and with the cooperation of local administrative authorities, developed country Parties and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, on the basis of initial consultations of those concerned at the national level;
(b) identify and analyze the constraints, needs and gaps affecting development and sustainable land use and recommend practical measures to avoid duplication by making full use of relevant ongoing efforts and promote implementation of results;
(c) facilitate, design and formulate project activities based on interactive, flexible approaches in order to ensure active participation of the population in affected areas, to minimize the negative impact of such activities, and to identify and prioritize requirements for financial assistance and technical cooperation;
(d) establish pertinent, quantifiable and readily verifiable indicators to ensure the assessment and evaluation of national action programmes, which encompass actions in the short, medium and long terms, and of the implementation of such programmes; and
(e) prepare progress reports on the implementation of the national action programmes.
Article 10
Organizational framework of subregional action programmes
1. Pursuant to article 4 of the Convention, African country Parties shall cooperate in the preparation and implementation of subregional action programmes for central, eastern, northern, southern and western Africa and, in that regard, may delegate the following responsibilities to relevant subregional intergovernmental organizations:
(a) acting as focal points for preparatory activities and coordinating the implementation of the subregional action programmes;
(b) assisting in the preparation and implementation of national action programmes;
(c) facilitating the exchange of information, experience and know-how as well as providing advice on the review of national legislation; and
(d) any other responsibilities relating to the implementation of subregional action programmes.
2. Specialized subregional institutions may provide support, upon request, and/or be entrusted with the responsibility to coordinate activities in their respective fields of competence.
Article 11
Content and preparation of subregional action programmes
Subregional action programmes shall focus on issues that are better addressed at the subregional level. They shall establish, where necessary, mechanisms for the management of shared natural resources. Such mechanisms shall effectively handle transboundary problems associated with desertification and/or drought and shall provide support for the harmonious implementation of national action programmes. Priority areas for subregional action programmes shall, as appropriate, focus on:
(a) joint programmes for the sustainable management of transboundary natural resources through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, as appropriate;
(b) coordination of programmes to develop alternative energy sources;
(c) cooperation in the management and control of pests as well as of plant and animal diseases;
(d) capacity building, education and public awareness activities that are better carried out or supported at the subregional level;
(e) scientific and technical cooperation, particularly in the climatological, meteorological and hydrological fields, including networking for data collection and assessment, information sharing and project monitoring, and coordination and prioritization of research and development activities;
(f) early warning systems and joint planning for mitigating the effects of drought, including measures to address the problems resulting from environmentally induced migrations;
(g) exploration of ways of sharing experiences, particularly regarding participation of local populations and communities, and creation of an enabling environment for improved land use management and for use of appropriate technologies;
(h) strengthening of the capacity of subregional organizations to coordinate and provide technical services, as well as establishment, reorientation and strengthening of subregional centres and institutions; and
(i) development of policies in fields, such as trade, which have impact upon affected areas and populations, including policies for the coordination of regional marketing regimes and for common infrastructure.
Article 12
Organizational framework of the regional action programme
1. Pursuant to article 11 of the Convention, African country Parties shall jointly determine the procedures for preparing and implementing the regional action programme.
2. The Parties may provide appropriate support to relevant African regional institutions and organizations to enable them to assist African country Parties to fulfil their responsibilities under the Convention.
Article 13
Content of the regional action programme
The regional action programme includes measures relating to combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought in the following priority areas, as appropriate:
(a) development of regional cooperation and coordination of sub-regional action programmes for building regional consensus on key policy areas, including through regular consultations of sub-regional organizations;
(b) promotion of capacity building in activities which are better implemented at the regional level;
(c) the seeking of solutions with the international community to global economic and social issues that have an impact on affected areas taking into account article 4, paragraph 2 (b) of the Convention;
(d) promotion among the affected country Parties of Africa and its subregions, as well as with other affected regions, of exchange of information and appropriate techniques, technical know-how and relevant experience; promotion of scientific and technological cooperation particularly in the fields of climatology, meteorology, hydrology, water resource development and alternative energy sources; coordination of sub-regional and regional research activities; and identification of regional priorities for research and development;
(e) coordination of networks for systematic observation and assessment and information exchange, as well as their integration into world wide networks; and
(f) coordination of and reinforcement of sub-regional and regional early warning systems and drought contingency plans.
Article 14
Financial resources
1. Pursuant to article 20 of the Convention and article 4, paragraph 2, affected African country Parties shall endeavour to provide a macroeconomic framework conducive to the mobilization of financial resources and shall develop policies and establish procedures to channel resources more effectively to local development programmes, including through non-governmental organizations, as appropriate.
2. Pursuant to article 21, paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Convention, the Parties agree to establish an inventory of sources of funding at the national, subregional, regional and international levels to ensure the rational use of existing resources and to identify gaps in resource allocation, to facilitate implementation of the action programmes. The inventory shall be regularly reviewed and updated.
3. Consistent with article 7 of the Convention, the developed country Parties shall continue to allocate significant resources and/or increased resources as well as other forms of assistance to affected African country Parties on the basis of partnership agreements and arrangements referred to in article 18, giving, inter alia, due attention to matters related to debt, international trade and marketing arrangements in accordance with article 4, paragraph 2 (b) of the Convention.
Article 15
Financial Mechanisms
1. Consistent with article 7 of the Convention underscoring the priority to affected African country Parties and considering the particular situation prevailing in this region, the Parties shall pay special attention to the implementation in Africa of the provisions of article 21, paragraph 1 (d) and (e) of the Convention, notably by:
(a) facilitating the establishment of mechanisms, such as national desertification funds, to channel financial resources to the local level; and
(b) strengthening existing funds and financial mechanisms at the subregional and regional levels.
2. Consistent with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, the Parties which are also members of the governing bodies of relevant regional and subregional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund, shall promote efforts to give due priority and attention to the activities of those institutions that advance the implementation of this Annex.
3. The Parties shall streamline, to the extent possible, procedures for channelling funds to affected African country Parties.
Article 16
Technical assistance and cooperation
The Parties undertake, in accordance with their respective capabilities, to rationalize technical assistance to, and cooperation with, African country Parties with a view to increasing project and programme effectiveness by, inter alia:
(a) limiting the costs of support measures and backstopping, especially overhead costs; in any case, such costs shall only represent an appropriately low percentage of the total cost of the project so as to maximize project efficiency;
(b) giving preference to the utilization of competent national experts or, where necessary, competent experts from within the subregion and/or region, in project design, preparation and implementation, and to the building of local expertise where it does not exist; and
(c) effectively managing and coordinating, as well as efficiently utilizing, technical assistance to be provided.
Article 17
Transfer, acquisition, adaptation and access to environmentally sound technology
In implementing article 18 of the Convention relating to transfer, acquisition, adaptation and development of technology, the Parties undertake to give priority to African country Parties and, as necessary, to develop with them new models of partnership and cooperation with a view to strengthening capacity building in the fields of scientific research and development and information collection and dissemination to enable them to implement their strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought.
Article 18
Coordination and partnership agreements
1. African country Parties shall coordinate the preparation, negotiation and implementation of national, subregional and regional action programmes. They may involve, as appropriate, other Parties and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in this process.
2. The objectives of such coordination shall be to ensure that financial and technical cooperation is consistent with the Convention and to provide the necessary continuity in the use and administration of resources.
3. African country Parties shall organize consultative processes at the national, subregional and regional levels. These consultative processes may:
(a) serve as a forum to negotiate and conclude partnership agreements based on national, subregional and regional action programmes; and
(b) specify the contribution of African country Parties and other members of the consultative groups to the programmes and identify priorities and agreements on implementation and evaluation indicators, as well as funding arrangements for implementation.
4. The Permanent Secretariat may, at the request of African country Parties, pursuant to article 23 of the Convention, facilitate the convocation of such consultative processes by:
(a) providing advice on the organization of effective consultative arrangements, drawing on experiences from other such arrangements;
(b) providing information to relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies concerning consultative meetings or processes, and encouraging their active involvement; and
(c) providing other information that may be relevant in establishing or improving consultative arrangements.
5. The subregional and regional coordinating bodies shall, inter alia:
(a) recommend appropriate adjustments to partnership agreements;
(b) monitor, assess and report on the implementation of the agreed subregional and regional programmes; and
(c) aim to ensure efficient communication and cooperation among African country Parties.
6. Participation in the consultative groups shall, as appropriate, be open to Governments, interested groups and donors, relevant organs, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, relevant subregional and regional organizations, and representatives of relevant non-governmental organizations. Participants of each consultative group shall determine the modalities of its management and operation.
7. Pursuant to article 14 of the Convention, developed country Parties are encouraged to develop, on their own initiative, an informal process of consultation and coordination among themselves, at the national, subregional and regional levels, and, at the request of an affected African country Party or of an appropriate subregional or regional organization, to participate in a national, subregional or regional consultative process that would evaluate and respond to assistance needs in order to facilitate implementation.
Article 19
Follow-up arrangements
Follow-up of this Annex shall be carried out by African country Parties in accordance with the Convention as follows:
(a) at the national level, by a mechanism the composition of which should be determined by each affected African country Party and which shall include representatives of local communities and shall function under the supervision of the national coordinating body referred to in article 9;
(b) at the subregional level, by a multidisciplinary scientific and technical consultative committee, the composition and modalities of operation of which shall be determined by the African country Parties of the subregion concerned; and
(c) at the regional level, by mechanisms defined in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community, and by an African Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee.
ANNEX II
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX FOR ASIA
Article 1
Purpose
The purpose of this Annex is to provide guidelines and arrangements for the effective implementation of the Convention in the affected country Parties of the Asian region in the light of its particular conditions.
Article 2
Particular conditions of the Asian region
In carrying out their obligations under the Convention, the Parties shall, as appropriate, take into consideration the following particular conditions which apply in varying degrees to the affected country Parties of the region:
(a) the high proportion of areas in their territories affected by, or vulnerable to, desertification and drought and the broad diversity of these areas with regard to climate, topography, land use and socio-economic systems;
(b) the heavy pressure on natural resources for livelihoods;
(c) the existence of production systems, directly related to widespread poverty, leading to land degradation and to pressure on scarce water resources;
(d) the significant impact of conditions in the world economy and social problems such as poverty, poor health and nutrition, lack of food security, migration, displaced persons and demographic dynamics;
(e) their expanding, but still insufficient, capacity and institutional frameworks to deal with national desertification and drought problems; and
(f) their need for international cooperation to pursue sustainable development objectives relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.
Article 3
Framework for national action programmes
1. National action programmes shall be an integral part of broader national policies for sustainable development of the affected country Parties of the region.
2. The affected country Parties shall, as appropriate, develop national action programmes pursuant to articles 9 to 11 of the Convention, paying special attention to article 10, paragraph 2 (f). As appropriate, bilateral and multilateral cooperation agencies may be involved in this process at the request of the affected country Party concerned.
Article 4
National action programmes
1. In preparing and implementing national action programmes, the affected country Parties of the region, consistent with their respective circumstances and policies, may, inter alia, as appropriate:
(a) designate appropriate bodies responsible for the preparation, coordination and implementation of their action programmes;
(b) involve affected populations, including local communities, in the elaboration, coordination and implementation of their action programmes through a locally driven consultative process, with the cooperation of local authorities and relevant national and non- governmental organizations;
(c) survey the state of the environment in affected areas to assess the causes and consequences of desertification and to determine priority areas for action;
(d) evaluate, with the participation of affected populations, past and current programmes for combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, in order to design a strategy and elaborate activities in their action programmes;
(e) prepare technical and financial programmes based on the information derived from the activities in subparagraphs (a) to (d);
(f) develop and utilize procedures and benchmarks for evaluating implementation of their action programmes;
(g) promote the integrated management of drainage basins, the conservation of soil resources, and the enhancement and efficient use of water resources;
(h) strengthen and/or establish information, evaluation and follow up and early warning systems in regions prone to desertification and drought, taking account of climatological, meteorological, hydrological, biological and other relevant factors; and
(i) formulate in a spirit of partnership, where international cooperation, including financial and technical resources, is involved, appropriate arrangements supporting their action programmes.
2. Consistent with article 10 of the Convention, the overall strategy of national action programmes shall emphasize integrated local development programmes for affected areas, based on participatory mechanisms and on the integration of strategies for poverty eradication into efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. Sectoral measures in the action programmes shall be grouped in priority fields which take account of the broad diversity of affected areas in the region referred to in article 2 (a).
Article 5
Subregional and joint action programmes
1. Pursuant to article 11 of the Convention, affected country Parties in Asia may mutually agree to consult and cooperate with other Parties, as appropriate, to prepare and implement subregional or joint action programmes, as appropriate, in order to complement, and increase effectiveness in the implementation of, national action programmes. In either case, the relevant Parties may jointly agree to entrust subregional, including bilateral or national organizations, or specialized institutions, with responsibilities relating to the preparation, coordination and implementation of programmes. Such organizations or institutions may also act as focal points for the promotion and coordination of actions pursuant to articles 16 to 18 of the Convention.
2. In preparing and implementing subregional or joint action programmes, the affected country Parties of the region shall, inter alia, as appropriate:
(a) identify, in cooperation with national institutions, priorities relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought which can better be met by such programmes, as well as relevant activities which could be effectively carried out through them;
(b) evaluate the operational capacities and activities of relevant regional, subregional and national institutions;
(c) assess existing programmes relating to desertification and drought among all or some parties of the region or subregion and their relationship with national action programmes; and
(d) formulate in a spirit of partnership, where international cooperation, including financial and technical resources, is involved, appropriate bilateral and/or multilateral arrangements supporting the programmes.
3. Subregional or joint action programmes may include agreed joint programmes for the sustainable management of transboundary natural resources relating to desertification, priorities for coordination and other activities in the fields of capacity building, scientific and technical cooperation, particularly drought early warning systems and information sharing, and means of strengthening the relevant subregional and other organizations or institutions.
Article 6
Regional activities
Regional activities for the enhancement of subregional or joint action programmes may include, inter alia, measures to strengthen institutions and mechanisms for coordination and cooperation at the national, subregional and regional levels, and to promote the implementation of articles 16 to 19 of the Convention. These activities may also include:
(a) promoting and strengthening technical cooperation networks;
(b) preparing inventories of technologies, knowledge, know-how and practices, as well as traditional and local technologies and know-how, and promoting their dissemination and use;
(c) evaluating the requirements for technology transfer and promoting the adaptation and use of such technologies; and
(d) encouraging public awareness programmes and promoting capacity building at all levels, strengthening training, research and development and building systems for human resource development.
Article 7
Financial resources and mechanisms
1. The Parties shall, in view of the importance of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought in the Asian region, promote the mobilization of substantial financial resources and the availability of financial mechanisms, pursuant to articles 20 and 21 of the Convention.
2. In conformity with the Convention and on the basis of the coordinating mechanism provided for in article 8 and in accordance with their national development policies, affected country Parties of the region shall, individually or jointly:
(a) adopt measures to rationalize and strengthen mechanisms to supply funds through public and private investment with a view to achieving specific results in action to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(b) identify international cooperation requirements in support of national efforts, particularly financial, technical and technological; and
(c) promote the participation of bilateral and/or multilateral financial cooperation institutions with a view to ensuring implementation of the Convention.
3. The Parties shall streamline, to the extent possible, procedures for channelling funds to affected country Parties in the region.
Article 8
Cooperation and coordination mechanisms
1. Affected country Parties, through the appropriate bodies designated pursuant to article 4, paragraph 1 (a), and other Parties in the region, may, as appropriate, set up a mechanism for, inter alia, the following purposes:
(a) exchange of information, experience, knowledge and know-how;
(b) cooperation and coordination of actions, including bilateral and multilateral arrangements, at the subregional and regional levels;
(c) promotion of scientific, technical, technological and financial cooperation pursuant to articles 5 to 7;
(d) identification of external cooperation requirements; and
(e) follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of action programmes.
2. Affected country Parties, through the appropriate bodies designated pursuant to article 4, paragraph 1 (a), and other Parties in the region, may also, as appropriate, consult and coordinate as regards the national, subregional and joint action programmes. They may involve, as appropriate, other Parties and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in this process. Such coordination shall, inter alia, seek to secure agreement on opportunities for international cooperation in accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, enhance technical cooperation and channel resources so that they are used effectively.
3. Affected country Parties of the region shall hold periodic coordination meetings, and the Permanent Secretariat may, at their request, pursuant to article 23 of the Convention, facilitate the convocation of such coordination meetings by:
(a) providing advice on the organization of effective coordination arrangements, drawing on experience from other such arrangements;
(b) providing information to relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies concerning coordination meetings, and encouraging their active involvement; and
(c) providing other information that may be relevant in establishing or improving coordination processes.
ANNEX III
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Article 1
Purpose
The purpose of this Annex is to provide general guidelines for the implementation of the Convention in the Latin American and Caribbean region, in light of its particular conditions.
Article 2
Particular conditions of the Latin American and Caribbean region
The Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, take into consideration the following particular conditions of the region:
(a) the existence of broad expanses which are vulnerable and have been severely affected by desertification and/or drought and in which diverse characteristics may be observed, depending on the area in which they occur; this cumulative and intensifying process has negative social, cultural, economic and environmental effects which are all the more serious in that the region contains one of the largest resources of biological diversity in the world;
(b) the frequent use of unsustainable development practices in affected areas as a result of complex interactions among physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors, including international economic factors such as external indebtedness, deteriorating terms of trade and trade practices which affect markets for agricultural, fishery and forestry products; and
(c) a sharp drop in the productivity of ecosystems being the main consequence of desertification and drought, taking the form of a decline in agricultural, livestock and forestry yields and a loss of biological diversity; from the social point of view, the results are impoverishment, migration, internal population movements, and the deterioration of the quality of life; the region will therefore have to adopt an integrated approach to problems of desertification and drought by promoting sustainable development models that are in keeping with the environmental, economic and social situation in each country.
Article 3
Action programmes
1. In conformity with the Convention, in particular its articles 9 to 11, and in accordance with their national development policies, affected country Parties of the region shall, as appropriate, prepare and implement national action programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought as an integral part of their national policies for sustainable development. Subregional and regional programmes may be prepared and implemented in accordance with the requirements of the region.
2. In the preparation of their national action programmes, affected country Parties of the region shall pay particular attention to article 10, paragraph 2 (f) of the Convention.
Article 4
Content of national action programmes
In the light of their respective situations, the affected country Parties of the region may take account, inter alia, of the following thematic issues in developing their national strategies for action to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought, pursuant to article 5 of the Convention:
(a) increasing capacities, education and public awareness, technical, scientific and technological cooperation and financial resources and mechanisms;
(b) eradicating poverty and improving the quality of human life;
(c) achieving food security and sustainable development and management of agricultural, livestock-rearing, forestry and multipurpose activities;
(d) sustainable management of natural resources, especially the rational management of drainage basins;
(e) sustainable management of natural resources in high-altitude areas;
(f) rational management and conservation of soil resources and exploitation and efficient use of water resources;
(g) formulation and application of emergency plans to mitigate the effects of drought;
(h) strengthening and/or establishing information, evaluation and follow-up and early warning systems in areas prone to desertification and drought, taking account of climatological, meteorological, hydrological, biological, soil, economic and social factors;
(i) developing, managing and efficiently using diverse sources of energy, including the promotion of alternative sources;
(j) conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity;
(k) consideration of demographic aspects related to desertification and drought; and
(l) establishing or strengthening institutional and legal frameworks permitting application of the Convention and aimed, inter alia, at decentralizing administrative structures and functions relating to desertification and drought, with the participation of affected communities and society in general.
Article 5
Technical, scientific and technological cooperation
In conformity with the Convention, in particular its articles 16 to 18, and on the basis of the coordinating mechanism provided for in article 7, affected country Parties of the region shall, individually or jointly:
(a) promote the strengthening of technical cooperation networks and national, subregional and regional information systems, as well as their integration, as appropriate, in worldwide sources of information;
(b) prepare an inventory of available technologies and know-how and promote their dissemination and use;
(c) promote the use of traditional technology, knowledge, know-how and practices pursuant to article 18, paragraph 2 (b), of the Convention;
(d) identify transfer of technology requirements; and
(e) promote the development, adaptation, adoption and transfer of relevant existing and new environmentally sound technologies.
Article 6
Financial resources and mechanisms
In conformity with the Convention, in particular its articles 20 and 21, on the basis of the coordinating mechanism provided for in article 7 and in accordance with their national development policies, affected country Parties of the region shall, individually or jointly:
(a) adopt measures to rationalize and strengthen mechanisms to supply funds through public and private investment with a view to achieving specific results in action to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
(b) identify international cooperation requirements in support of national efforts; and
(c) promote the participation of bilateral and/or multilateral financial cooperation institutions with a view to ensuring implementation of the Convention.
Article 7
Institutional framework
1. In order to give effect to this Annex, affected country Parties of the region shall:
(a) establish and/or strengthen national focal points to coordinate action to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought; and
(b) set up a mechanism to coordinate the national focal points for the following purposes:
(i) exchanges of information and experience;
(ii) coordination of activities at the subregional and regional levels;
(iii) promotion of technical, scientific, technological and financial cooperation;
(iv) identification of external cooperation requirements; and
(v) follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of action programmes.
2. Affected country Parties of the region shall hold periodic coordination meetings and the Permanent Secretariat may, at their request, pursuant to article 23 of the Convention, facilitate the convocation of such coordination meetings, by:
(a) providing advice on the organization of effective coordination arrangements, drawing on experience from other such arrangements;
(b) providing information to relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies concerning coordination meetings, and encouraging their active involvement; and
(c) providing other information that may be relevant in establishing or improving coordination processes.
ANNEX IV
REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX FOR THE NORTHERN MEDITERRANEAN
Article 1
Purpose
The purpose of this Annex is to provide guidelines and arrangements necessary for the effective implementation of the Convention in affected country Parties of the northern Mediterranean region in the light of its particular conditions.
Article 2
Particular conditions of the northern Mediterranean region
The particular conditions of the northern Mediterranean region referred to in article 1 include:
(a) semi-arid climatic conditions affecting large areas, seasonal droughts, very high rainfall variability and sudden and high-intensity rainfall;
(b) poor and highly erodible soils, prone to develop surface crusts;
(c) uneven relief with steep slopes and very diversified landscapes;
(d) extensive forest coverage losses due to frequent wildfires;
(e) crisis conditions in traditional agriculture with associated land abandonment and deterioration of soil and water conservation structures;
(f) unsustainable exploitation of water resources leading to serious environmental damage, including chemical pollution, salinization and exhaustion of aquifers; and
(g) concentration of economic activity in coastal areas as a result of urban growth, industrial activities, tourism and irrigated agriculture.
Article 3
Strategic planning framework for sustainable development
1. National action programmes shall be a central and integral part of the strategic planning framework for sustainable development of the affected country Parties of the northern Mediterranean.
2. A consultative and participatory process, involving appropriate levels of government, local communities and non-governmental organizations, shall be undertaken to provide guidance on a strategy with flexible planning to allow maximum local participation, pursuant to article 10, paragraph 2 (f) of the Convention.
Article 4
Obligation to prepare national action programmes and timetable
Affected country Parties of the northern Mediterranean region shall prepare national action programmes and, as appropriate, subregional, regional or joint action programmes. The preparation of such programmes shall be finalized as soon as practicable.
Article 5
Preparation and implementation of national action programmes
In preparing and implementing national action programmes pursuant to articles 9 and 10 of the Convention, each affected country Party of the region shall, as appropriate:
(a) designate appropriate bodies responsible for the preparation, coordination and implementation of its programme;
(b) involve affected populations, including local communities, in the elaboration, coordination and implementation of the programme through a locally driven consultative process, with the cooperation of local authorities and relevant non-governmental organizations;
(c) survey the state of the environment in affected areas to assess the causes and consequences of desertification and to determine priority areas for action;
(d) evaluate, with the participation of affected populations, past and current programmes in order to design a strategy and elaborate activities in the action programme;
(e) prepare technical and financial programmes based on the information gained through the activities in subparagraphs (a) to (d); and
(f) develop and utilize procedures and benchmarks for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the programme.
Article 6
Content of national action programmes
Affected country Parties of the region may include, in their national action programmes, measures relating to:
(a) legislative, institutional and administrative areas;
(b) land use patterns, management of water resources, soil conservation, forestry, agricultural activities and pasture and range management;
(c) management and conservation of wildlife and other forms of biological diversity;
(d) protection against forest fires;
(e) promotion of alternative livelihoods; and
(f) research, training and public awareness.
Article 7
Subregional, regional and joint action programmes
1. Affected country Parties of the region may, in accordance with article 11 of the Convention, prepare and implement subregional and/or regional action programmes in order to complement and increase the efficiency of national action programmes. Two or more affected country Parties of the region, may similarly agree to prepare a joint action programme between or among them.
2. The provisions of articles 5 and 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the preparation and implementation of subregional, regional and joint action programmes. In addition, such programmes may include the conduct of research and development activities concerning selected ecosystems in affected areas.
3. In preparing and implementing subregional, regional or joint action programmes, affected country Parties of the region shall, as appropriate:
(a) identify, in cooperation with national institutions, national objectives relating to desertification which can better be met by such programmes and relevant activities which could be effectively carried out through them;
(b) evaluate the operational capacities and activities of relevant regional, subregional and national institutions; and
(c) assess existing programmes relating to desertification among Parties of the region and their relationship with national action programmes.
Article 8
Coordination of subregional, regional and joint action programmes
Affected country Parties preparing a subregional, regional or joint action programme may establish a coordination committee composed of representatives of each affected country Party concerned to review progress in combating desertification, harmonize national action programmes, make recommendations at the various stages of preparation and implementation of the subregional, regional or joint action programme, and act as a focal point for the promotion and coordination of technical cooperation pursuant to articles 16 to 19 of the Convention.
Article 9
Non-eligibility for financial assistance
In implementing national, subregional, regional and joint action programmes, affected developed country Parties of the region are not eligible to receive financial assistance under this Convention.
Article 10
Coordination with other subregions and regions
Subregional, regional and joint action programmes in the northern Mediterranean region may be prepared and implemented in collaboration with those of other subregions or regions, particularly with those of the subregion of northern Africa.
KONVENCIJA ZDRUŽENIH NARODOV
O BOJU PROTI DEZERTIFIKACIJI V TISTIH DRŽAVAH, KI DOŽIVLJAJO HUDO SUŠO IN/ALI DEZERTIFIKACIJO, ZLASTI V AFRIKI
Pogodbenice te konvencije
potrjujejo, da je ljudem na prizadetih ali ogroženih območjih namenjena osrednja skrb v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše,
izražajo globoko zaskrbljenost mednarodne skupnosti, vključno z državami in mednarodnimi organizacijami, glede škodljivih vplivov dezertifikacije in suše,
se zavedajo, da so vsa aridna, semiaridna in suha subhumidna območja pomemben del kopnega na Zemlji ter da so bivališče in vir preživljanja za obsežen del njenega prebivalstva,
priznavajo, da sta dezertifikacija in suša težavi svetovne razsežnosti, saj prizadevata vse regije na svetu, in da je potrebno skupno ukrepanje mednarodne skupnosti v boju proti dezertifikaciji in/ali za ublažitev posledic suše,
ugotavljajo, da je med državami, ki doživljajo hudo sušo in/ali dezertifikacijo, veliko držav v razvoju, zlasti najmanj razvitih, in da so posebej tragične posledice teh pojavov v Afriki,
ugotavljajo tudi to, da je vzrok dezertifikacije zapleteno vzajemno delovanje fizikalnih, bioloških, političnih, družbenih, kulturnih in gospodarskih dejavnikov,
upoštevajo vpliv blagovne menjave in ustreznih vidikov mednarodnih gospodarskih odnosov na sposobnost prizadetih držav za boj proti dezertifikaciji,
se zavedajo, da so trajno uravnotežena gospodarska rast, družbeni razvoj in izkoreninjenje revščine prednostne naloge prizadetih držav v razvoju, zlasti v Afriki, in so bistvene za izpolnitev ciljev trajnostnega razvoja,
se zavedajo, da dezertifikacija in suša v povezavi s pomembnimi družbenimi vprašanji, kot so revščina, slabo zdravje in prehrana, pomanjkanje hrane, in tistimi, ki jih povzročajo preseljevanje, razseljenost in demografska gibanja, vplivata na trajnostni razvoj,
cenijo pomembnost preteklih prizadevanj ter izkušenj držav in mednarodnih organizacij v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše, zlasti pri izvajanju Akcijskega načrta za boj proti dezertifikaciji, sprejetega na Konferenci Združenih narodov o dezertifikaciji leta 1977,
ob spoznanju, da kljub preteklim prizadevanjem v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše ni bil dosežen pričakovan napredek in da je potreben nov in učinkovitejši pristop na vseh ravneh v okviru trajnostnega razvoja,
priznavajo veljavnost in pomembnost odločitev, sprejetih na Konferenci Združenih narodov o okolju in razvoju, zlasti Agende 21 in njenega 12. poglavja, ki pomenita temelj boja proti dezertifikaciji,
s tega vidika ponovno potrjujejo obveznosti razvitih držav, kot so zajete v 13. členu 33. poglavja Agende 21,
se sklicujejo na resolucijo Generalne skupščine 47/188, zlasti na prednost, ki je v njej dana Afriki, in na vse druge ustrezne resolucije, odločitve in programe Združenih narodov v zvezi z dezertifikacijo in sušo kakor tudi na ustrezne deklaracije afriških držav in držav iz drugih regij,
ponovno potrjujejo Deklaracijo o okolju in razvoju iz Ria, v kateri je pod njenim 2. načelom navedeno, da imajo države v skladu z Ustanovno listino Združenih narodov in načeli mednarodnega prava suvereno pravico do izkoriščanja svojih virov v skladu s svojimi okoljevarstvenimi in razvojnimi usmeritvami ter odgovornost, da zagotovijo, da dejavnosti pod njihovo jurisdikcijo ali nadzorom ne povzročajo škode okolju drugih držav ali območjem zunaj meja državne jurisdikcije,
priznavajo, da imajo vlade držav odločilno vlogo v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše in da je napredek v tem pogledu odvisen od lokalnega izvajanja programov ukrepov na prizadetih območjih,
priznavajo tudi pomembnost in nujnost mednarodnega sodelovanja in partnerstva v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše,
nadalje priznavajo pomembnost zagotavljanja prizadetim državam v razvoju, zlasti v Afriki, učinkovite pomoči, med drugim znatnih finančnih virov, vključno z novimi in dodatnimi sredstvi in dostopom do tehnologije, brez katere bodo težko v celoti izvajale svoje obveznosti po tej konvenciji,
izražajo zaskrbljenost zaradi vpliva dezertifikacije in suše na prizadete države v srednji Aziji in Zakavkazju,
poudarjajo pomembno vlogo, ki jo imajo ženske na območjih, prizadetih zaradi dezertifikacije in/ali suše, zlasti na podeželju držav v razvoju, in pomembnost zagotavljanja sodelovanja tako moških kot žensk v celoti na vseh ravneh v programih za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše,
poudarjajo posebno vlogo nevladnih organizacij in drugih pomembnih skupin v programih za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše,
upoštevajo povezanost dezertifikacije z drugimi okoljevarstvenimi vprašanji svetovnih razsežnosti, s katerimi se srečujejo mednarodna in državne skupnosti,
upoštevajo tudi prispevek boja proti dezertifikaciji pri doseganju ciljev iz Okvirne konvencije Združenih narodov o spremembi podnebja, Konvencije o biološki raznovrstnosti in drugih s tem povezanih okoljevarstvenih konvencij,
v prepričanju, da bodo strategije za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše najučinkovitejše, če bodo temeljile na dobro premišljenem načrtnem opazovanju in zanesljivih znanstvenih dognanjih in če se bodo nenehno na novo vrednotile,
se zavedajo nujne potrebe po izboljšanju učinkovitosti in usklajevanja mednarodnega sodelovanja, da se pospeši izvajanje državnih načrtov in prednostnih nalog,
odločene, da ustrezno ukrepajo v boju proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitvi posledic suše v dobro sedanji in prihodnjim generacijam,
so se sporazumele, kot sledi:
I. DEL
UVOD
1. člen
UPORABA IZRAZOV
Za namene te konvencije:
a) “dezertifikacija“ pomeni degradacijo zemljišč na aridnih, semiaridnih in suhih subhumidnih območjih zaradi različnih dejavnikov, vključno s podnebnimi spremembami in človekovo dejavnostjo;
b) “boj proti dezertifikaciji“ zajema dejavnosti, ki so sestavni del celostnega razvoja zemljišč na aridnih, semiaridnih in suhih subhumidnih območjih za trajnostni razvoj, katerih cilj je:
i) preprečevanje in/ali zmanjšanje degradacije zemljišč;
ii) sanacija delno degradiranih zemljišč in
iii) pridobivanje obdelovalne zemlje na že degradiranih območjih;
c) “suša“ pomeni naravni pojav, do katerega pride, kadar so padavine precej pod običajno ravnijo, kar poruši hidrološko ravnotežje, to pa negativno vpliva na proizvodno sposobnost tal;
d) “ublažitev posledic suše“ v smislu boja proti dezertifikaciji pomeni dejavnosti, ki so povezane z napovedovanjem suše in katerih namen je zmanjšanje ranljivosti družbe in naravnih sistemov za sušo;
e) “zemljišče“ pomeni talni bioproizvodni sistem, ki zajema tla, vegetacijo, druga živa bitja ter ekološke in hidrološke procese, ki potekajo v okviru sistema;
f) “degradacija zemljišč“ pomeni na aridnih, semiaridnih in suhih subhumidnih območjih zmanjšanje ali izgubo biološke ali gospodarske proizvodnje in celovitosti obdelovalnih zemljišč, ki jih napaja dež, namakalnih območij ali območij za lov ali pašo in z gozdom poraslih območij zaradi rabe zemljišč ali procesa oziroma kombinacije procesov, vključno s procesi, ki so posledica človekove dejavnosti in različnih oblik prebivališč, kot so:
i) erozija tal, ki jo povzročata veter in/ali voda;
ii) poslabšanje fizikalnih, kemičnih in bioloških ali gospodarskih lastnosti tal in
iii) dolgoročna izguba naravne vegetacije;
g) “aridna, semiaridna in suha subhumidna območja“ pomenijo območja, ki niso polarna in subpolarna območja, na katerih je razmerje med letno količino padavin in potencialno evapotranspiracijo v razponu med 0,05 do 0,65;
h) “prizadeta območja“ pomenijo aridna, semiaridna in suha subhumidna območja, ki jih je prizadela dezertifikacija ali pa jim ta grozi;
i) “prizadete države“ pomenijo države, katerih ozemlje v celoti ali delno zajema prizadeta območja;
j) “organizacija za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje“ pomeni organizacijo, ki jo ustanovijo suverene države v dani regiji in je pristojna za zadeve, ki jih ureja ta konvencija, in je v skladu s svojimi notranjimi postopki pravilno pooblaščena za podpis, ratifikacijo, sprejetje in odobritev te konvencije ali pristop k njej;
k) “razvite države pogodbenice“ pomenijo razvite države pogodbenice in organizacije za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje, ki jih ustanovijo razvite države.
2. člen
CILJ
1. Cilj te konvencije je boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše v državah, ki doživljajo hudo sušo in/ali dezertifikacijo, zlasti v Afriki, z učinkovitim ukrepanjem na vseh ravneh, podprtim z dogovori o mednarodnem sodelovanju in partnerstvu, v okviru skupnega pristopa, usklajenega z Agendo 21, z namenom prispevati k doseganju trajnostnega razvoja na prizadetih območjih.
2. Za dosego tega cilja bodo potrebne dolgoročne skupne strategije, ki bodo na prizadetih območjih hkrati usmerjene k povečanju proizvodne sposobnosti zemljišč in sanaciji, ohranjanju in trajnostnemu gospodarjenju s talnimi in vodnimi viri, kar bo pripomoglo k izboljšanju življenjskih razmer, še zlasti na ravni skupnosti.
3. člen
NAČELA
Za dosego cilja te konvencije in pri izvajanju njenih določb se pogodbenice med drugim ravnajo po naslednjih načelih:
a) pogodbenice bi morale zagotoviti, da se odločitve glede oblike in izvajanja programov za boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše sprejmejo ob sodelovanju prebivalstva in lokalnih skupnosti in da se na višjih ravneh ustvarijo take razmere, ki omogočajo ukrepanje na državni in lokalni ravni;
b) pogodbenice bi morale v duhu mednarodne solidarnosti in partnerstva izboljšati sodelovanje in usklajevanje na subregionalni, regionalni in mednarodni ravni ter ustrezneje usmeriti finančne, človeške, organizacijske in tehnične vire tja, kjer so potrebni;
c) pogodbenice bi morale v duhu partnerstva razvijati sodelovanje na vseh ravneh vlade, med skupnostmi, nevladnimi organizacijami in lastniki zemljišč, da se dosežeta boljše poznavanje narave in vrednosti zemlje ter redkih vodnih virov na prizadetih območjih in njihova trajnostna raba, in
d) pogodbenice bi morale v celoti upoštevati posebne potrebe in razmere v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah v razvoju, zlasti v najmanj razvitih med njimi.
II. DEL
SPLOŠNE DOLOČBE
4. člen
SPLOŠNE OBVEZNOSTI
1. Pogodbenice izvajajo svoje obveznosti iz te konvencije posamično ali skupno bodisi prek obstoječih ali predvidenih dvostranskih ali večstranskih dogovorov ali njihove kombinacije, kadar je primerno, in pri tem poudarjajo potrebo po usklajevanju prizadevanj in razvoju jasno določene dolgoročne strategije na vseh ravneh.
2. Pogodbenice v prizadevanju za dosego cilja te konvencije:
a) sprejmejo skupen pristop do obravnavanja fizikalnih, bioloških in družbenogospodarskih vidikov procesov dezertifikacije in suše;
b) v okviru pristojnih mednarodnih in regionalnih organov namenijo potrebno pozornost položaju prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju glede na mednarodno blagovno menjavo, dogovore o trženju in zadolženost z namenom ustvariti take mednarodne gospodarske razmere, ki bodo prispevale k spodbujanju trajnostnega razvoja;
c) vključijo strategije za izkoreninjenje revščine v prizadevanja za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše;
d) širijo sodelovanje med prizadetimi državami pogodbenicami na področju varstva okolja in ohranjanja talnih in vodnih virov v zvezi z bojem proti dezertifikaciji in suši;
e) krepijo subregionalno, regionalno in mednarodno sodelovanje;
f) sodelujejo v pristojnih mednarodnih organizacijah;
g) določijo institucionalne mehanizme, kadar je primerno, in upoštevajo potrebo po preprečevanju podvajanja in
h) spodbujajo uporabo obstoječih dvostranskih in večstranskih finančnih mehanizmov in dogovorov, s katerimi zbirajo znatne finančne vire in jih usmerjajo v prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše.
3. Prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju so upravičene do pomoči pri izvajanju konvencije.
5. člen
OBVEZNOSTI PRIZADETIH DRŽAV POGODBENIC
Poleg obveznosti v skladu s 4. členom se prizadete države pogodbenice zavežejo, da bodo:
a) dajale ustrezno prednost boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše ter za to namenile ustrezne vire v skladu s svojimi razmerami in zmožnostmi;
b) v okviru načrtov in/ali usmeritev za trajnostni razvoj določile strategije in prednostne naloge za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše;
c) obravnavale osnovne vzroke za dezertifikacijo in posvečale posebno pozornost družbenogospodarskim dejavnikom, ki prispevajo k procesom dezertifikacije;
d) širile ozaveščenost in omogočale sodelovanje lokalnega prebivalstva, zlasti žensk in mladine, s podporo nevladnih organizacij v prizadevanjih za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše in
e) zagotavljale ustrezne razmere s krepitvijo ustrezne obstoječe zakonodaje, če je to primerno, in kadar jih ni, s sprejemom novih zakonov in oblikovanjem dolgoročnih usmeritev in programov ukrepov.
6. člen
OBVEZNOSTI RAZVITIH DRŽAV POGODBENIC
Poleg svojih splošnih obveznosti v skladu s 4. členom se razvite države pogodbenice zavežejo, da bodo:
a) dejavno podpirale, kot se sporazumejo, posamično ali skupno prizadevanja prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike in najmanj razvitih držav, v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše;
b) zagotavljale znatne finančne vire in druge oblike pomoči prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, učinkovito razvijale in izvajale svoje dolgoročne načrte in strategije za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše;
c) spodbujale zbiranje novih in dodatnih sredstev v skladu s pododstavkom b) drugega odstavka 20. člena;
d) spodbujale zbiranje sredstev iz zasebnega sektorja in drugih nevladnih virov in
e) širile in omogočale dostop prizadetim državam pogodbenicam, zlasti prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju, do ustrezne tehnologije, dognanj ter znanja in izkušenj.
7. člen
PREDNOST AFRIKE
Pri izvajanju te konvencije pogodbenice namenijo prednost prizadetim afriškim državam pogodbenicam ob upoštevanju posebnih razmer, ki vladajo v tej regiji, vendar pri tem ne zanemarjajo prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju iz drugih regij.
8. člen
ODNOS DO DRUGIH KONVENCIJ
1. Pogodbenice spodbujajo usklajevanje dejavnosti, ki se izvajajo po tej konvenciji in po drugih ustreznih mednarodnih sporazumih, če so njihove pogodbenice, zlasti po Okvirni konvenciji Združenih narodov o spremembi podnebja in Konvenciji o biološki raznovrstnosti, da bi imele kar največ koristi od vsakega sporazuma, pri čemer se je treba izogibati podvajanju. Pogodbenice spodbujajo izvajanje skupnih programov, zlasti na področju raziskav, usposabljanja, načrtnega opazovanja ter zbiranja in izmenjave podatkov, kolikor take dejavnosti lahko prispevajo k doseganju ciljev iz teh sporazumov.
2. Določbe te konvencije ne vplivajo na pravice in obveznosti katere koli pogodbenice, ki izhajajo iz dvostranskega, regionalnega ali mednarodnega sporazuma, ki ga je sklenila, preden je zanjo začela veljati ta konvencija.
III. DEL PROGRAMI UKREPOV, ZNANSTVENO IN TEHNIČNO SODELOVANJE TER PODPORNI UKREPI
Razdelek 1:
PROGRAMI UKREPOV
9. člen
TEMELJNI PRISTOP
1. Pri izpolnjevanju svojih obveznosti iz 5. člena prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju in vsaka druga prizadeta država pogodbenica v okviru priloge o regionalnem izvajanju ali kako drugače, ki so sicer pisno obvestile Stalni sekretariat o svoji nameri, da bodo pripravile državni program ukrepov, kadar je to ustrezno, pripravijo, objavijo in izvajajo državne programe ukrepov, pri čemer uporabljajo obstoječe ustrezne uspešne načrte in programe in v možnem obsegu gradijo na njih, ter subregionalne in regionalne programe ukrepov kot osrednji sestavni del strategije za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. Taki programi se sproti dopolnjujejo z nenehnim procesom sodelovanja na podlagi izkušenj s terena kot tudi izsledkov raziskav. Priprava državnih programov ukrepov je tesno povezana z drugimi prizadevanji za oblikovanje državnih usmeritev za trajnostni razvoj.
2. Pri zagotavljanju različnih oblik pomoči po določbah iz 6. člena razvite države pogodbenice po dogovoru namenjajo prednost podpiranju državnih, subregionalnih in regionalnih programov ukrepov prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, bodisi neposredno ali prek ustreznih večstranskih organizacij ali na oba načina.
3. Pogodbenice spodbujajo organe, sklade in programe iz sistema Združenih narodov in druge pristojne medvladne organizacije, akademske ustanove, znanstvene kroge in vplivne nevladne organizacije k medsebojnemu sodelovanju v skladu z njihovimi pooblastili in zmožnostmi, da podprejo pripravo, izvajanje in spremljanje programov ukrepov.
10. člen
DRŽAVNI PROGRAMI UKREPOV
1. Namen državnih programov ukrepov je določiti dejavnike, ki povzročajo dezertifikacijo, in uporabne ukrepe, potrebne za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše.
2. V državnih programih ukrepov se določijo ustrezna vloga vlade, lokalnih skupnosti in uporabnikov zemljišč ter razpoložljivi in potrebni viri. Med drugim ti programi ukrepov:
a) zajemajo dolgoročne strategije za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše, poudarjajo njihovo izvajanje in so povezani z državnimi usmeritvami za trajnostni razvoj;
b) omogočajo spremembe, potrebne zaradi spreminjajočih se razmer, in so na lokalni ravni dovolj prilagodljivi, da obvladujejo različne družbenogospodarske, biološke in geofizikalne razmere;
c) namenjajo posebno pozornost izvajanju zaščitnih ukrepov za zemljišča, ki še niso ali so samo delno degradirana;
d) povečujejo klimatološke, meteorološke in hidrološke zmožnosti države ter načine za zagotavljanje zgodnjega opozarjanja na sušo;
e) uveljavljajo usmeritve in krepijo institucionalne okvire, ki razvijajo sodelovanje in usklajevanje v duhu partnerstva med skupnostjo, ki daje pomoč, vladami na vseh ravneh, lokalnim prebivalstvom in skupinami skupnosti ter lokalnemu prebivalstvu omogočajo dostop do ustreznih podatkov in tehnologije;
f) na lokalni, državni in regionalni ravni zagotavljajo učinkovito sodelovanje nevladnih organizacij in lokalnega prebivalstva, tako žensk kot moških, zlasti uporabnikov virov, vključno s kmeti in pastirji in njihovimi predstavniškimi organizacijami, pri načrtovanju usmeritev, odločanju in izvajanju ter pregledovanju državnih programov ukrepov in
g) zahtevajo reden pregled njihovega izvajanja in poročila o tem.
3. Državni programi ukrepov med drugim lahko vključujejo nekatere ali vse od naslednjih ukrepov za pripravo na sušo in ublažitev njenih posledic:
a) vzpostavitev in/ali krepitev, kadar je ustrezno, sistemov zgodnjega opozarjanja, vključno z lokalnimi in državnimi zmogljivostmi ter skupnimi sistemi na subregionalni in regionalni ravni, in mehanizmov za pomoč osebam, razseljenim zaradi okolja;
b) krepitev pripravljenosti na sušo in njeno obvladovanje, vključno z načrti za morebitno sušo na lokalni, državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni, v katerih so upoštevane napovedi glede podnebja po letnih časih in po letih;
c) vzpostavitev in/ali krepitev, kadar je ustrezno, sistemov za zagotavljanje zalog hrane, vključno s skladiščnimi in prodajnimi prostori, zlasti na podeželju;
d) uvedba projektov za nadomestne oblike preživljanja, ki bi lahko zagotovile dohodek na območjih, nagnjenih k suši, in
e) razvoj trajnostnih programov namakanja za poljščine in živino.
4. Ob upoštevanju razmer in zahtev, značilnih za vsako prizadeto državo pogodbenico, državni programi ukrepov med drugim vključujejo, kadar je ustrezno, ukrepe na nekaterih ali vseh naslednjih prednostnih področjih, če se nanašajo na boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše na prizadetih območjih in na njihovo prebivalstvo: spodbujanje nadomestnih načinov preživljanja in izboljšanje državnih gospodarskih razmer z namenom krepiti programe, usmerjene k izkoreninjenju revščine in zagotavljanju zalog hrane; demografska gibanja; trajnostno gospodarjenje z naravnimi viri; trajnostni kmetijski postopki; razvoj različnih energetskih virov in njihova učinkovita raba; institucionalni in pravni okviri; krepitev zmožnosti za presojo in načrtno opazovanje, vključno s hidrološkimi in meteorološkimi službami, ter gradnja zmogljivosti, izobraževanje in ozaveščanje javnosti.
11. člen
SUBREGIONALNI IN REGIONALNI PROGRAMI UKREPOV
Prizadete države pogodbenice se v skladu z ustreznimi prilogami za regionalno izvajanje medsebojno posvetujejo in sodelujejo, kadar je ustrezno, pri pripravi subregionalnih in/ali regionalnih programov ukrepov za uskladitev, dopolnitev in povečanje učinkovitosti državnih programov. Določbe 10. člena se s potrebnimi spremembami uporabljajo za subregionalne in regionalne programe. Tako sodelovanje lahko zajema dogovorjene skupne programe za trajnostno gospodarjenje s čezmejnimi naravnimi viri, znanstveno in tehnično sodelovanje ter krepitev ustreznih institucij.
12. člen
MEDNARODNO SODELOVANJE
Prizadete države pogodbenice bi morale v sodelovanju z drugimi pogodbenicami in mednarodno skupnostjo med seboj sodelovati pri zagotavljanju mednarodnega okolja, spodbudnega za izvajanje konvencije. Tako sodelovanje bi moralo zajemati tudi prenos tehnologije ter znanstvene raziskave in razvoj, zbiranje podatkov in njihovo širjenje ter finančne vire.
13. člen
PODPORA PRI PRIPRAVI IN IZVAJANJU PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
1. Ukrepi v podporo programom ukrepov v skladu z 9. členom med drugim zajemajo:
a) finančno sodelovanje, ki bo zagotovilo predvidljivost programov ukrepov in omogočilo potrebno dolgoročno načrtovanje;
b) oblikovanje in uporabo mehanizmov sodelovanja, ki omogočajo večjo podporo na lokalni ravni, vključno z ukrepi, ki se izvajajo prek nevladnih organizacij, za spodbujanje ponovne izvedbe dejavnosti iz uspešnih poskusnih programov, kadar je ustrezno;
c) večjo prilagodljivost pri oblikovanju projektov, njihovem financiranju in izvajanju ob upoštevanju preskusnega interaktivnega pristopa pri sodelovanju na ravni lokalnih skupnosti, in
d) kadar je ustrezno, upravne ali proračunske postopke, ki povečujejo učinkovitost sodelovanja in podpornih programov.
2. Pri zagotavljanju takšne podpore prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju je treba dati prednost afriškim državam pogodbenicam in najmanj razvitim državam pogodbenicam.
14. člen
USKLAJEVANJE PRI PRIPRAVI IN IZVAJANJU PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
1. Pogodbenice neposredno ali prek ustreznih mednarodnih organizacij tesno sodelujejo pri pripravi in izvajanju programov ukrepov.
2. Pogodbenice razvijejo operativne mehanizme, zlasti na državni ravni in na terenu, da zagotovijo najboljše možno usklajevanje med razvitimi državami pogodbenicami, državami pogodbenicami v razvoju ter ustreznimi medvladnimi in nevladnimi organizacijami, da preprečijo podvajanje, uskladijo posege in pristope ter čim bolj povečajo učinek pomoči. V prizadetih državah pogodbenicah v razvoju bo imelo prednost usklajevanje dejavnosti, povezanih z mednarodnim sodelovanjem, da se čim bolj poveča učinkovita raba virov, zagotovi ustrezna pomoč in omogoči izvajanje državnih programov ukrepov in prednostnih nalog po tej konvenciji.
15. člen
PRILOGE ZA REGIONALNO IZVAJANJE
Sestavni deli, ki jih je treba vključiti v programe ukrepov, se izberejo in prilagodijo družbenogospodarskim, geografskim in podnebnim dejavnikom v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah ali regijah kakor tudi njihovi stopnji razvoja. Smernice za pripravo programov ukrepov in njihova osredotočenost na določene subregije in regije ter njihova vsebina so opisane v prilogah za regionalno izvajanje.
Razdelek 2:
TEHNIČNO IN ZNANSTVENO SODELOVANJE
16. člen
ZBIRANJE PODATKOV, NJIHOVA ANALIZA IN IZMENJAVA
Pogodbenice se sporazumejo, da v skladu s svojimi ustreznimi zmožnostmi združijo in usklajujejo zbiranje, analiziranje in izmenjavo ustreznih kratkoročnih in dolgoročnih podatkov in informacij za zagotavljanje načrtnega opazovanja degradacije zemljišč na prizadetih območjih ter za boljše poznavanje in presojanje procesov ter posledic suše in dezertifikacije. To bi med drugim pripomoglo k uvedbi zgodnjega opozarjanja in predhodnega načrtovanja za obdobja negativnih podnebnih sprememb v primerni obliki, ki bi jo uporabniki uporabljali na vseh ravneh, med njimi zlasti lokalno prebivalstvo. V ta namen, kadar je ustrezno:
a) omogočajo in krepijo delovanje svetovne mreže ustanov in zmogljivosti za zbiranje, analiziranje in izmenjavo podatkov ter za načrtno opazovanje na vseh ravneh, pri čemer si te med drugim:
i) prizadevajo za uporabo združljivih standardov in sistemov;
ii) vključujejo ustrezne podatke in postaje, vključno na odročnih področjih;
iii) uporabljajo in širijo sodobno tehnologijo za zbiranje podatkov o degradaciji zemljišč, njihov prenos in presojo in
iv) tesneje povezujejo državne, subregionalne in regionalne podatkovne in informacijske centre s svetovnimi viri podatkov;
b) zagotavljajo, da se pri zbiranju, analiziranju in izmenjavi podatkov upoštevajo potrebe lokalnih skupnosti in tistih, ki odločajo, z namenom rešiti določena vprašanja ter da so v te dejavnosti vključene lokalne skupnosti;
c) podpirajo in nadalje razvijajo dvostranske in večstranske programe in projekte, katerih cilj je opredeliti, voditi, presojati in financirati zbiranje, analiziranje in izmenjavo podatkov in informacij, med drugim vključno s povezanimi nizi fizikalnih, bioloških, družbenih in gospodarskih kazalcev;
d) v celoti izkoriščajo strokovno znanje pristojnih medvladnih in nevladnih organizacij, zlasti za širjenje pomembnih podatkov in izkušenj med ciljnimi skupinami v različnih regijah;
e) v celoti priznavajo pomembnost zbiranja, analiziranja in izmenjave družbenogospodarskih podatkov ter njihovega povezovanja s fizikalnimi in biološkimi podatki;
f) izmenjujejo in dajejo na voljo v celoti, prosto in sproti podatke iz vseh javno dostopnih virov, ki so pomembni za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše, in
g) ob upoštevanju svoje ustrezne zakonodaje in/ali usmeritev izmenjujejo podatke o lokalnem in tradicionalnem znanju, zagotavljajo njegovo ustrezno varovanje in lokalnemu prebivalstvu na pravični podlagi in medsebojno dogovorjenih pogojih zagotovijo pravično povračilo za koristi, ki jih to znanje prinaša.
17. člen
RAZISKAVE IN RAZVOJ
1. Pogodbenice se v skladu svojimi ustreznimi zmožnostmi zavežejo, da bodo širile tehnično in znanstveno sodelovanje na področjih boja proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše prek ustreznih državnih, subregionalnih, regionalnih in mednarodnih institucij. V ta namen podpirajo raziskovalne dejavnosti, ki:
a) prispevajo k boljšemu poznavanju procesov, ki povzročajo dezertifikacija in sušo, ter vpliva in razlikovanja med vzročnimi dejavniki, tako naravnimi kot človeškimi, z namenom boja proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitvi posledic suše ter doseganju večje produktivnosti kakor tudi trajnostne rabe in gospodarjenja z viri;
b) se odzivajo na dobro zastavljene cilje, se ukvarjajo s posebnimi potrebami lokalnega prebivalstva in vodijo k iskanju in izvajanju rešitev, ki prispevajo k višjemu življenjskemu standardu ljudi na prizadetih območjih;
c) varujejo, povezujejo, širijo in potrjujejo tradicionalna in lokalna dognanja, znanje in izkušnje ter postopke in ob upoštevanju svoje ustrezne notranje zakonodaje in/ali usmeritev zagotavljajo, da bodo imeli imetniki teh dognanj neposredno korist na nepristranski podlagi in pri medsebojno dogovorjenih pogojih od kakršnega koli izkoriščanja teh dognanj v komercialne namene ali od kakršnega koli tehnološkega razvoja, ki izhaja iz teh dognanj;
d) razvijajo in krepijo državne, subregionalne in regionalne raziskovalne zmožnosti v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, vključno z razvojem lokalnega strokovnega znanja in krepitvijo ustreznih zmogljivosti, zlasti v državah s šibko raziskovalno podlago, ob posvečanju posebne pozornosti multidisciplinarnim in participativnim družbenogospodarskim raziskavam;
e) upoštevajo, kadar je primerno, povezavo med revščino, preseljevanjem, ki ju povzročajo okoljski dejavniki, in dezertifikacijo;
f) spodbujajo tako v javnem kot v zasebnem sektorju izvajanje skupnih raziskovalnih programov državnih, subregionalnih, regionalnih in mednarodnih raziskovalnih organizacij za razvoj izboljšanih in dostopnih tehnologij za trajnostni razvoj prek uspešnega sodelovanja lokalnega prebivalstva in skupnosti in
g) povečujejo razpoložljivost vodnih virov na prizadetih območjih, med drugim s sejanjem oblakov (cloud-seeding).
2. Raziskovalne prednostne naloge za določene regije in subregije, ki odsevajo različne lokalne razmere, bi morale biti vključene v programe ukrepov. Konferenca pogodbenic redno pregleduje raziskovalne prednostne naloge, ki jih svetuje Odbor za znanost in tehnologijo.
18. člen
PRENOS, NABAVA, PRILAGODITEV IN RAZVOJ TEHNOLOGIJE
1. Pogodbenice se zavežejo, da bodo, kot so se dogovorile in v skladu s svojo ustrezno notranjo zakonodajo in /ali usmeritvami, spodbujale, financirale prenos, nabavo, prilagoditev in razvoj okolju prijaznih, gospodarsko izvedljivih in družbeno sprejemljivih tehnologij, pomembnih v boju proti dezertifikaciji in/ali za ublažitev posledic suše, in/ali omogočale njihovo financiranje z namenom prispevati k doseganju trajnostnega razvoja na prizadetih območjih. Tako sodelovanje izvajajo dvostransko ali večstransko, kadar je ustrezno, in pri tem v celoti izkoriščajo strokovno znanje medvladnih in nevladnih organizacij. Pogodbenice zlasti:
a) v celoti izkoriščajo ustrezne obstoječe državne, subregionalne, regionalne in mednarodne informacijske sisteme in posredovalne mehanizme za širitev podatkov o razpoložljivih tehnologijah, njihovih virih, njihovi nevarnosti za okolje in splošnih pogojih, pod katerimi se lahko nabavijo;
b) pod ugodnimi pogoji, vključno s koncesijskimi in preferenčnimi pogoji, o katerih se medsebojno dogovorijo, ob upoštevanju potrebe po varstvu pravic intelektualne lastnine omogočajo zlasti prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju dostop do tehnologij, ki so najprimernejše za dejansko uporabo pri posebnih potrebah lokalnega prebivalstva, pri čemer posvečajo posebne pozornosti vplivu take tehnologije na družbo, kulturo, gospodarstvo in okolje;
c) pospešujejo tehnološko sodelovanje med pogodbenicami iz prizadetih držav s finančno pomočjo ali na druge ustrezne načine;
d) širijo tehnološko sodelovanje s prizadetimi državami pogodbenicami v razvoju, vključno s skupnimi vlaganji, kadar je primerno, zlasti na področja, ki razvijajo nadomestne oblike preživljanja, in
e) sprejmejo ustrezne ukrepe za oblikovanje razmer in pobud na domačem trgu, fiskalne ali druge, ki omogočajo razvoj, prenos, nabavo in prilagoditev primerne tehnologije, dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov, vključno z ukrepi za zagotavljanje ustreznega in učinkovitega varovanja pravic intelektualne lastnine.
2. Pogodbenice v skladu s svojimi ustreznimi zmožnostmi in ob upoštevanju svoje ustrezne notranje zakonodaje in/ali usmeritev varujejo, širijo in zlasti uporabljajo ustrezno tradicionalno in lokalno tehnologijo, dognanja, znanje in izkušnje ter postopke in se v ta namen zavežejo, da bodo:
a) pripravile popise take tehnologije, dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov in njihove možne uporabe ob sodelovanju lokalnega prebivalstva ter take podatke širile, kadar je ustrezno, v sodelovanju s pristojnimi medvladnimi in nevladnimi organizacijami;
b) zagotovile, da se taka tehnologija, dognanja, znanje in izkušnje ter postopki ustrezno varujejo in da ima lokalno prebivalstvo neposredno korist na nepristranski podlagi, in kot se medsebojno dogovorijo, od vsake njihove komercialne uporabe ali od vsakega iz njih izpeljanega tehnološkega razvoja;
c) spodbujajo in dejansko podpirajo izboljšanje in širitev takšne tehnologije, dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov ali razvoj nove, na njih temelječe tehnologije in
d) omogočajo, kadar je ustrezno, prilagoditev take tehnologije, dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov za široko uporabo in njihovo povezovanje s sodobno tehnologijo, kadar je ustrezno.
Razdelek 3
SPREMLJAJOČI UKREPI
19. člen
GRADNJA ZMOGLJIVOSTI, IZOBRAŽEVANJE IN OZAVEŠČENOST JAVNOSTI
1. Pogodbenice priznavajo pomen gradnje zmogljivosti, to je institucionalne gradnje, usposabljanja in razvoja ustreznih lokalnih in državnih zmogljivosti, v prizadevanjih za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. Gradnjo zmogljivosti, kadar je ustrezno, spodbujajo:
a) s sodelovanjem na vseh ravneh, zlasti na lokalni ravni, lokalnega prebivalstva v celoti, še posebej žensk in mladine, ob sodelovanju nevladnih in lokalnih organizacij;
b) s krepitvijo izobraževalnih in raziskovalnih zmožnosti na državni ravni na področju boja proti dezertifikaciji in suši;
c) z ustanavljanjem in/ali krepitvijo podpornih in dislociranih služb za učinkovitejše širjenje ustreznih tehnoloških sistemov in tehnik in z usposabljanjem terenskih predstavnikov in članov podeželskih organizacij pri načinih soodločanja za ohranitev naravnih virov in njihovo trajnostno rabo;
d) s spodbujanjem uporabe in širitvijo dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov lokalnega prebivalstva v programih za tehnično sodelovanje, kjer koli je možno;
e) s prilagajanjem, kadar je potrebno, ustrezne, okolju prijazne tehnologije in tradicionalnih načinov kmetijstva in pastirstva sodobnim družbenogospodarskim razmeram;
f) z zagotavljanjem ustreznega usposabljanja in tehnologije pri uporabi nadomestnih virov energije, zlasti obnovljivih virov energije, katerih cilj je predvsem zmanjšanje odvisnosti od lesa za kurjavo;
g) s sodelovanjem, kot se medsebojno dogovorijo, pri krepitvi zmogljivosti pogodbenic iz prizadetih držav v razvoju za razvoj in izvajanje programov na področju zbiranja, analiziranja in izmenjave podatkov v skladu s 16. členom;
h) z novimi načini širjenja nadomestnih virov preživljanja, vključno z usposabljanjem za nove spretnosti;
i) z usposabljanjem tistih, ki sprejemajo odločitve, vodstva in osebja, pristojnega za zbiranje in analiziranje podatkov za širitev in uporabo zgodnjega opozarjanja na sušne razmere in za pridobivanje hrane;
j) z učinkovitejšim delovanjem obstoječih državnih ustanov in pravnih okvirov in po potrebi z ustanavljanjem novih, skupaj s krepitvijo strateškega načrtovanja in gospodarjenja in
k) s programi za izmenjavo strokovnjakov za hitrejšo gradnjo zmogljivosti v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah prek dolgoročnega, interaktivnega postopka učenja in proučevanja.
2. Prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju opravijo v sodelovanju z drugimi pogodbenicami in pristojnimi medvladnimi in nevladnimi organizacijami, kadar je ustrezno, interdisciplinarni pregled razpoložljivih zmogljivosti na lokalni in državni ravni ter možnosti za njihovo krepitev.
3. Pogodbenice sodelujejo med seboj in prek pristojnih medvladnih kakor tudi nevladnih organizacij pri prevzemu in širitvi ozaveščenosti javnosti ter izobraževalnih programov tako v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah kot, in kadar je ustrezno, v neprizadetih državah pogodbenicah, za boljše poznavanje vzrokov in posledic dezertifikacije in suše ter pomena izpolnitve cilja iz te konvencije. V ta namen:
a) organizirajo akcije za krepitev ozaveščenosti javnosti;
b) nenehno širijo dostop javnosti do ustreznih podatkov in spodbujajo sodelovanje široke javnosti pri dejavnostih izobraževanja in krepitve ozaveščenosti;
c) spodbujajo ustanavljanje združenj, ki prispevajo k ozaveščenosti javnosti;
d) razvijajo in izmenjujejo gradivo za izobraževanje in krepitev ozaveščenosti javnosti, po možnosti v lokalnih jezikih, izmenjujejo in pošiljajo strokovnjake za usposabljanje osebja v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah v razvoju za izvajanje ustreznih izobraževalnih programov in programov za krepitev ozaveščenosti javnosti ter v celoti izkoriščajo ustrezno izobraževalno gradivo, ki je na voljo pri pristojnih mednarodnih organih;
e) ocenjujejo potrebe po izobraževanju na prizadetih območjih, pripravljajo ustrezne učne načrte ter po potrebi širijo izobraževalne programe in programe za opismenjevanje, ki so namenjeni vsem, zlasti pa dekletom in ženam, za spoznavanje, ohranjanje in trajnostno rabo naravnih virov na prizadetih območjih in gospodarjenje z njimi in
f) razvijajo programe za interdisciplinarno sodelovanje, ki vključujejo ozaveščenost o dezertifikaciji in posledicah suše v izobraževalne sisteme in neformalne izobraževalne programe, programe za odrasle, programe na daljavo in praktične programe.
4. Konferenca pogodbenic vzpostavi in/ali okrepi mrežo regionalnih centrov za izobraževanje in usposabljanje za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. To mrežo usklajuje ustanova, ki se ustanovi ali imenuje, zato da usposablja znanstveno, tehnično in vodstveno osebje in da krepi obstoječe ustanove, pristojne za izobraževanje in usposabljanje v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah, kadar je primerno, z namenom uskladiti programe in organizirati izmenjavo izkušenj med njimi. Ta mreža tesno sodeluje z ustreznimi medvladnimi in nevladnimi organizacijami, da se prepreči podvajanje prizadevanj.
20. člen
FINANČNI VIRI
1. Glede na osrednji pomen financiranja za dosego cilja te konvencije in upoštevanju svojih zmogljivosti si pogodbenice po svojih zmožnostih prizadevajo zagotoviti ustrezne finančne vire za programe za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše.
2. V zvezi s tem se razvite države pogodbenice, medtem ko dajejo prednost prizadetim afriškim državam pogodbenicam, ne da bi pri tem zanemarjale prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju iz drugih regij, v skladu s 7. členom zavežejo, da bodo:
a) zbrale znatne finančne vire, vključno s subvencijami in ugodnimi posojili, v podporo izvajanju programov za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše;
b) spodbujale zbiranje ustreznih, pravočasnih in predvidljivih finančnih virov, vključno z novim in dodatnim financiranjem iz Svetovnega sklada za okolje Programa Združenih narodov za razvoj (Global Environment Facility) dogovorjenih mejnih stroškov za tiste dejavnosti v zvezi z dezertifikacijo, ki se nanašajo na njegova štiri osrednja področja, v skladu z ustreznimi določbami listine, s katero se ustanovi Svetovni sklad za okolje;
c) z mednarodnim sodelovanjem omogočile prenos tehnologije, dognanj ter znanja in izkušenj in
d) v sodelovanju s prizadetimi državami pogodbenicami v razvoju proučevale nove načine in pobude za zbiranje in usmerjanje virov, vključno s sredstvi fundacij, nevladnih organizacij in drugih subjektov iz zasebnega sektorja, zlasti zamenjavo dolgov in druge nove načine, ki povečujejo financiranje z zmanjševanjem zunanjega dolga prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike.
3. Prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju se ob upoštevanju svojih zmogljivosti zavežejo, da bodo zbrale ustrezne finančne vire za izvajanje svojih državnih programov ukrepov.
4. Pri zbiranju finančnih virov skušajo pogodbenice doseči, da se v celoti uporabljajo in nenehno kakovostno izboljšujejo vsi državni, dvostranski in večstranski viri ter mehanizmi za financiranje z uporabo konzorcijev, skupnih programov in vzporednega financiranja, ter skušajo pritegniti vire in mehanizme za financiranje iz zasebnega sektorja, vključno s sredstvi in mehanizmi nevladnih organizacij. V ta namen pogodbenice v celoti izkoristijo operativne mehanizme, razvite v skladu s 14. členom.
5. Za zbiranje finančnih virov, ki jih prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju potrebujejo v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše, pogodbenice:
a) racionalizirajo in okrepijo gospodarjenje z viri, ki so že namenjeni za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše, tako da jih uporabljajo učinkoviteje in uspešneje, ocenjujejo njihovo uspešnost in pomanjkljivosti, odstranjujejo ovire za njihovo učinkovito uporabo in po potrebi preusmerjajo programe v smislu skupnega, dolgoročnega pristopa, ki so ga sprejele v skladu s to konvencijo;
b) v okviru pristojnih organov večstranskih finančnih ustanov, zmožnosti in skladov, vključno z bankami in skladi za regionalni razvoj, namenijo potrebno prednost in pozornost podpori pogodbenic iz prizadetih držav v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, pri dejavnostih, ki pospešujejo izvajanje konvencije, zlasti programov ukrepov, ki jih sprejmejo v okviru prilog za regionalno izvajanje, in
c) proučujejo načine za krepitev regionalnega in subregionalnega sodelovanja v podporo prizadevanjem, sprejetim na državni ravni.
6. Druge pogodbenice se spodbujajo, da prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju prostovoljno priskrbijo dognanja, znanja in izkušenj ter tehnike, povezane z bojem proti dezertifikaciji, in/ali finančne vire.
7. Prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, bo pri celotnem izvajanju obveznosti po konvenciji v veliko pomoč, če bodo razvite države pogodbenice izpolnjevale svoje obveznosti po konvenciji, zlasti tiste, ki se nanašajo na finančne vire in prenos tehnologije. Pri izpolnjevanju svojih obveznosti bi morale razvite države pogodbenice v celoti upoštevati, da so gospodarski in družbeni razvoj ter izkoreninjenje revščine najpomembnejše prednostne naloge prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike.
21. člen
FINANČNI MEHANIZMI
1. Konferenca pogodbenic poveča razpoložljivost finančnih mehanizmov in jih spodbuja, s čimer se skuša doseči čim večja razpoložljivost sredstev, da bi prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, izvajale konvencijo. V ta namen Konferenca pogodbenic med drugim prouči sprejem načinov in usmeritev, ki:
a) omogočajo zagotavljanje potrebnih finančnih sredstev na državni, subregionalni, regionalni in svetovni ravni za dejavnosti v skladu z ustreznimi določbami konvencije;
b) spodbujajo načine, mehanizme in dogovore o financiranju iz več virov in njihovo ocenjevanje v skladu z 20. členom;
c) redno zagotavljajo zainteresiranim pogodbenicam in pristojnim medvladnim in nevladnim organizacijam podatke o razpoložljivih virih sredstev in o oblikah financiranja, da se omogoči njihovo medsebojno usklajevanje;
d) omogočajo ustanavljanje, kadar je primerno, mehanizmov, kot so državni skladi za boj proti dezertifikaciji, vključno s tistimi, pri katerih sodelujejo nevladne organizacije, za hitro in učinkovito usmerjanje finančnih virov na lokalno raven v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah v razvoju in
e) krepijo obstoječe sklade in finančne mehanizme na subregionalni in regionalni ravni, zlasti v Afriki, v podporo učinkovitejšemu izvajanju konvencije.
2. Konferenca pogodbenic z različnimi mehanizmi iz sistema Združenih narodov in prek večstranskih finančnih ustanov tudi spodbuja zagotavljanje podpore na državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni dejavnostim, ki državam pogodbenicam v razvoju omogočajo izpolnjevanje njihovih obveznosti po konvenciji.
3. Prizadete države pogodbenice v razvoju uporabijo in po potrebi vzpostavijo in/ali okrepijo državne mehanizme usklajevanja, vključene v državne razvojne programe, ki bi zagotavljali učinkovito uporabo vseh razpoložljivih finančnih virov. Uporabijo tudi postopke soodločanja, ki vključujejo nevladne organizacije, lokalne skupine in zasebni sektor, pri zbiranju sredstev, oblikovanju in izvajanju programov ter zagotavljanju dostopa do sredstev skupinam na lokalni ravni. Te dejavnosti lahko tisti, ki zagotavljajo pomoč, okrepijo z boljšim usklajevanjem in prilagodljivimi programi.
4. Za večjo učinkovitost in gospodarnost obstoječih finančnih mehanizmov se vzpostavi splošen mehanizem za spodbujanje dejavnosti, ki vodijo k zbiranju znatnih finančnih virov, vključno za prenos tehnologije, na podlagi subvencij in/ali koncesijskih ali drugih pogojev in njihovemu usmerjanju v korist prizadetih držav pogodbenic v razvoju. Ta splošni mehanizem deluje pod pristojnostjo in vodstvom Konference pogodbenic, ki ji je odgovoren.
5. Konferenca pogodbenic na svojem prvem rednem zasedanju določi organizacijo, v okviru katere bo splošni mehanizem. Konferenca pogodbenic in organizacija, ki jo je določila, se dogovorita o pogojih in načinih delovanja tega splošnega mehanizma, da med drugim zagotovita, da tak mehanizem:
a) opredeljuje in sestavlja sezname ustreznih dvostranskih in večstranskih programov sodelovanja, ki so na voljo za izvajanje konvencije;
b) na zahtevo pogodbenicam svetuje glede novih načinov financiranja in virov finančne pomoči ter za boljše sodelovanje na državni ravni;
c) zainteresiranim pogodbenicam in pristojnim medvladnim ter nevladnim organizacijam zagotavlja podatke o razpoložljivih virih finančnih sredstev in o oblikah financiranja zaradi lažjega medsebojnega usklajevanja in
d) Konferenci pogodbenic poroča o svojih dejavnostih, prvič na njenem drugem rednem zasedanju.
6. Konferenca pogodbenic na svojem prvem zasedanju pripravi ustrezne dogovore z organizacijo, ki jo je določila, da v njenem okviru deluje splošni mehanizem, za opravljanje administrativnih del takega mehanizma in da se tako v največji možni meri izkoristijo obstoječi proračunski in človeški viri.
7. Konferenca pogodbenic na svojem rednem tretjem zasedanju pregleda usmeritve, pogoje in načine delovanja ter dejavnosti splošnega mehanizma, ki je Konferenci pogodbenic odgovoren v skladu s četrtim odstavkom, ob upoštevanju določb 7. člena. Na podlagi tega pregleda prouči in sprejme ustrezne ukrepe.
IV. DEL
USTANOVE
22. člen
KONFERENCA POGODBENIC
1. Ustanovi se Konferenca pogodbenic.
2. Konferenca pogodbenic je najvišji organ konvencije. V okviru svojih pooblastil sprejema odločitve, potrebne za širjenje njenega učinkovitega izvajanja. Zlasti:
a) redno pregleduje izvajanje konvencije in delovanje njene institucionalne ureditve z vidika pridobljenih izkušenj na državni, subregionalni, regionalni in mednarodni ravni in na podlagi razvoja znanstvenih in tehnoloških dognanj;
b) spodbuja in omogoča izmenjavo informacij o ukrepih, ki jih sprejmejo pogodbenice, ter določa obliko in časovni razpored za prenos podatkov, ki jih je treba predložiti v skladu s 26. členom, pregleduje poročila in o njih pripravlja priporočila;
c) ustanovi take pomožne organe, za katere meni, da so potrebni za izvajanje konvencije;
d) pregleduje poročila, ki jih ji predložijo pomožni organi, in zagotavlja smernice zanje;
e) dogovori se glede poslovnika in finančnih predpisov zase in za vse pomožne organe, ki jih sprejme s soglasjem;
f) sprejema spremembe konvencije v skladu s 30. in 31. členom;
g) odobri program in proračun za svoje dejavnosti, vključno z dejavnostmi pomožnih organov, in sprejema potrebne dogovore za njihovo financiranje;
h) kadar je ustrezno, si prizadeva za sodelovanje pristojnih organov in agencijami, bodisi državnih ali mednarodnih, medvladnih ali nevladnih, ter uporablja njihove storitve in podatke, ki jih zagotavljajo;
i) spodbuja in krepi povezavo z drugimi ustreznimi konvencijami in pri tem preprečuje podvajanje prizadevanj in
j) izvaja druge naloge, ki so lahko potrebne za dosego cilja konvencije.
3. Konferenca pogodbenic na svojem prvem zasedanju soglasno sprejme svoj poslovnik, ki vsebuje postopke odločanja o zadevah, ki niso zajete v postopkih odločanja, določenih v tej konvenciji. V teh postopkih je lahko določena večina, ki je potrebna za sprejem določenih odločitev.
4. Prvo zasedanje Konference pogodbenic skliče začasni sekretariat, omenjen v 35. členu, in poteka najkasneje v enem letu po začetku veljavnosti konvencije. Če Konferenca pogodbenic ne odloči drugače, potekajo drugo, tretje in četrto redno zasedanje vsako leto, naslednja redna zasedanja pa potem vsako drugo leto.
5. Izredna zasedanja Konference pogodbenic potekajo takrat, ko to določi Konferenca pogodbenic na rednem zasedanju, ali na pisno zahtevo katere koli pogodbenice, če jo v treh mesecih po tem, ko stalni sekretariat obvesti pogodbenice o tej zahtevi, podpre najmanj ena tretjina pogodbenic.
6. Na vsakem rednem zasedanju Konferenca pogodbenic izvoli biro. Sestava in naloge biroja se določijo v poslovniku. Pri imenovanju biroja se ustrezno upošteva potreba po zagotavljanju pravične geografske porazdelitve in ustrezne zastopanosti iz prizadetih držav pogodbenic, zlasti iz Afrike.
7. Združeni narodi, njihove specializirane agencije in vsaka njihova država članica ali opazovalka, ki ni pogodbenica konvencije, je lahko zastopana na zasedanjih Konference pogodbenic kot opazovalka. Vsakemu organu ali agenciji, bodisi državni ali mednarodni, vladni ali nevladni, pristojni za zadeve, zajete v konvenciji, ki je stalni sekretariat obvestila o svoji želji, da bi bila zastopana na zasedanju Konference pogodbenic kot opazovalka, se to dovoli, razen če je proti vsaj tretjina pogodbenic. Sprejem in udeležbo opazovalk ureja poslovnik, ki ga je sprejela Konferenca pogodbenic.
8. Konferenca pogodbenic lahko od pristojnih državnih in mednarodnih organizacij, ki imajo ustrezno strokovno znanje, zahteva, da ji zagotovijo podatke v skladu s pododstavkom g) 16. člena, pododstavkom c) prvega odstavka 17. člena in pododstavkom b) drugega odstavka 18. člena.
23. člen
STALNI SEKRETARIAT
1. Ustanovi se Stalni sekretariat.
2. Naloge Stalnega sekretariata so naslednje:
a) pripravlja zasedanja Konference pogodbenic in njenih pomožnih organov, ustanovljenih v skladu s konvencijo, in zagotavlja potrebne storitve zanje;
b) zbira in pošilja poročila, ki se mu predložijo;
c) na zahtevo omogoča pomoč prizadetim državam pogodbenicam v razvoju, zlasti iz Afrike, pri zbiranju in sporočanju podatkov, zahtevanih v skladu s to konvencijo;
d) usklajuje svoje dejavnosti s sekretariati drugih ustreznih mednarodnih organov in konvencij;
e) pod vodstvom Konference pogodbenic sklepa take upravne in pogodbene dogovore, ki so lahko potrebni za učinkovito izvajanje njegovih nalog;
f) pripravlja poročila o izvajanju svojih nalog iz te konvencije in jih predloži Konferenci pogodbenic in
g) opravlja druge naloge sekretariata, ki jih lahko določi Konferenca pogodbenic.
3. Konferenca pogodbenic na svojem prvem zasedanju imenuje Stalni sekretariat in pripravi vse potrebno za njegovo delovanje.
24. člen
ODBOR ZA ZNANOST IN TEHNOLOGIJO
1. Odbor za znanost in tehnologijo se ustanovi kot pomožni organ Konference pogodbenic, da ji zagotavlja podatke in nasvete v zvezi z znanstvenimi in tehnološkimi zadevami, ki se nanašajo na boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. Zasedanje odbora poteka skupaj z rednimi zasedanji Konference pogodbenic in je multidisciplinaren ter odprt za sodelovanje vseh pogodbenic. Sestavljajo ga vladni predstavniki, pristojni za ustrezna strokovna področja. Konferenca pogodbenic na svojem prvem zasedanju določi obseg pooblastil odbora.
2. Konferenca pogodbenic sestavi in vzdržuje seznam samostojnih strokovnjakov s strokovnim znanjem in izkušnjami z ustreznih področij. Seznam temelji na predlogih za imenovanje, ki jih pošljejo pogodbenice v pisni obliki, in upošteva potrebo po multidisciplinarnem pristopu in široki geografski zastopanosti.
3. Konferenca pogodbenic po potrebi lahko imenuje ad hoc odbore, ki ji prek Odbora zagotavljajo podatke in svetujejo glede posebnih vprašanj, povezanih z najnovejšimi dognanji v znanosti in tehnologiji, pomembnimi za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. Ti odbori so sestavljeni iz strokovnjakov, katerih imena so vzeta s seznama, ob upoštevanju potrebe po multidisciplinarnem pristopu in široki geografski zastopanosti. Ti strokovnjaki morajo imeti znanstveno izobrazbo in izkušnje s terena, imenuje pa jih Konferenca pogodbenic na priporočilo Odbora. Konferenca pogodbenic določi obseg pooblastil ter pogoje in načine delovanja teh odborov.
25. člen
POVEZOVANJE USTANOV, AGENCIJ IN ORGANOV V MREŽO
1. Odbor za znanost in tehnologijo pod nadzorom Konference pogodbenic zagotovi izvedbo analize in ocene ustreznih obstoječih mrež, ustanov, agencij in organov, ki so pripravljeni postati enote mreže. Taka mreža podpira izvajanje konvencije.
2. Na podlagi rezultatov analize in ocene, omenjenih v prvem odstavku, Odbor za znanost in tehnologijo pripravi priporočila za Konferenco pogodbenic glede načinov in sredstev, da se omogoči in krepi povezovanje enot na lokalni, državni in drugih ravneh v mrežo, z namenom posvetiti se tematskim potrebam, opisanim v členih 16 do 19.
3. Konferenca ob upoštevanju teh priporočil:
a) opredeli tiste državne, subregionalne, regionalne in mednarodne enote, ki so za povezovanje v mrežo najprimernejše, ter zanje priporoči operativne postopke in časovni okvir in
b) opredeli enote, ki so najprimernejše za pospeševanje in krepitev takega povezovanja v mrežo na vseh ravneh.
V. DEL
POSTOPKI
26. člen
SPOROČANJE PODATKOV
1. Vsaka pogodbenica prek Stalnega sekretariata poroča o ukrepih, ki jih je sprejela za izvajanje konvencije, Konferenci pogodbenic, ki jih nato prouči na svojih rednih zasedanjih. Konferenca pogodbenic določi časovni razpored za predložitev takih poročil in njihovo obliko.
2. Prizadete države pogodbenice zagotovijo opis strategij, ki so jih sprejele v skladu s 5. členom, ter vseh pomembnih podatkov glede njihovega izvajanja.
3. Prizadete države pogodbenice, ki izvajajo programe ukrepov v skladu s členi 9 do 15, zagotovijo podroben opis programov in njihovega izvajanja.
4. Vsaka skupina prizadetih držav pogodbenic lahko za ukrepe, sprejete na subregionalni in/ali regionalni ravni v okviru programov ukrepov, pripravlja skupna poročila.
5. Razvite države pogodbenice poročajo o ukrepih, ki so jih sprejele za pomoč pri pripravi in izvajanju programov ukrepov, vključno s podatki o finančnih virih, ki so jih zagotovile ali jih zagotavljajo v skladu s konvencijo.
6. Podatke, sporočene v skladu s prvim do četrtim odstavkom, Stalni sekretariat čim prej pošlje Konferenci pogodbenic in vsem pristojnim pomožnim organom.
7. Konferenca pogodbenic prizadetim državam pogodbenicam, zlasti iz Afrike, na njihovo zahtevo omogoča zagotavljanje tehnične in finančne pomoči pri zbiranju in sporočanju podatkov v skladu s tem členom ter opredeljevanju tehničnih in finančnih potreb, povezanih s programi ukrepov.
27. člen
UKREPI ZA REŠEVANJE VPRAŠANJ V ZVEZI Z IZVAJANJEM
Konferenca pogodbenic prouči in sprejme postopke in institucionalne mehanizme za reševanje vprašanj, ki se lahko pojavijo v zvezi z izvajanjem konvencije.
28. člen
REŠEVANJE SPOROV
1. Pogodbenice vse medsebojne spore v zvezi z razlago ali uporabo konvencije medsebojno rešujejo s pogajanji ali na drug miroljuben način po svoji izbiri.
2. Pogodbenica, ki ni organizacija za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje, lahko ob ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi konvencije ali pristopu k njej ali kadar koli po tem v listini, ki jo predloži depozitarju, izjavi, da za vse spore v zvezi z razlago in uporabo konvencije priznava enega ali oba od naslednjih načinov za reševanje sporov kot obveznega za vsako pogodbenico, ki sprejme enako obveznost:
a) arbitražo v skladu s postopki, ki jih sprejme Konferenca pogodbenic, v prilogi, kakor hitro je to mogoče;
b) predložitev spora Meddržavnemu sodišču.
3. Pogodbenica, ki je organizacija za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje, lahko da izjavo s podobnim učinkom glede arbitraže v skladu s postopkom, omenjenim v pododstavku a) drugega odstavka.
4. Izjava, ki je bila dana v skladu z drugim odstavkom, velja, dokler ne poteče v skladu s pogoji, ali še tri mesece po tem, ko je depozitar prejel pisno obvestilo o njenem preklicu.
5. Prenehanje veljavnosti izjave, obvestilo o preklicu ali nova izjava nikakor ne vplivajo na nerešene postopke pred arbitražnim sodiščem ali Meddržavnim sodiščem, razen če se pogodbenice v sporu drugače dogovorijo.
6. Če pogodbenice v sporu niso sprejele enakega postopka ali nobenega postopka v skladu z drugim odstavkom in če niso bile sposobne rešiti svojega spora v dvanajstih mesecih po tem, ko je ena pogodbenica obvestila drugo, da je med njima prišlo do spora, se za spor na zahtevo katere koli pogodbenice v sporu začne spravni postopek v skladu s postopki, ki jih sprejme Konferenca pogodbenic, v prilogi, kakor hitro je mogoče.
29. člen
POLOŽAJ PRILOG
1. Priloge so sestavni del konvencije, in če ni izrecno drugače predvideno, sklicevanje na konvencijo pomeni tudi sklicevanje na njene priloge.
2. Pogodbenice razlagajo določbe iz prilog v skladu s svojimi pravicami in obveznostmi po členih te konvencije.
30. člen
SPREMEMBE KONVENCIJE
1. Vsaka pogodbenica lahko predlaga spremembe konvencije.
2. Spremembe konvencije se sprejmejo na rednem zasedanju Konference pogodbenic. Besedilo vsake predlagane spremembe Stalni sekretariat sporoči pogodbenicam vsaj šest mesecev pred zasedanjem, na katerem se predlaga njen sprejem. Stalni sekretariat predlagane spremembe sporoči tudi podpisnicam konvencije.
3. Pogodbenice si prizadevajo za dosego sporazuma glede vsake predlagane spremembe konvencije s soglasjem. Če so bila vsa prizadevanja za soglasje izčrpana in sporazum ni bil dosežen, je zadnja možnost, da se sprememba sprejme z dvotretinjsko večino glasov pogodbenic, ki so na zasedanju prisotne in glasujejo. Sprejeto spremembo Stalni sekretariat sporoči depozitarju, ki jo pošlje vsem pogodbenicam v ratifikacijo, sprejetje, odobritev ali pristop.
4. Listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi spremembe ali pristopu k njej se deponirajo pri depozitarju. Sprememba, sprejeta v skladu s tretjim odstavkom, začne veljati za tiste pogodbenice, ki so jo sprejele, devetdeseti dan po tem, ko depozitar prejme listino o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu vsaj od dveh tretjin pogodbenic konvencije, ki so bile pogodbenice med sprejetjem spremembe.
5. Za vsako drugo pogodbenico sprememba začne veljati devetdeseti dan po tem, ko je ta pogodbenica deponirala pri depozitarju svojo listino o ratifikaciji, sprejetju ali odobritvi omenjene spremembe oziroma o pristopu k njej.
6. V tem členu in v 31. členu “pogodbenice, ki so prisotne in glasujejo“ pomeni prisotne pogodbenice, ki glasujejo za ali proti.
31. člen
SPREJEM IN SPREMEMBA PRILOG
1. Vsaka dodatna priloga h konvenciji in vsaka sprememba priloge se predlagata in sprejmeta v skladu s postopkom za spremembo konvencije, določenim v 30. členu, če pri sprejemanju dodatne priloge za regionalno izvajanje ali spremembe katere koli priloge za regionalno izvajanje večina, predvidena v omenjenem členu, vključuje dvotretjinsko večino glasov pogodbenic iz zadevne regije, ki so prisotne in glasujejo. Sprejem ali spremembo priloge depozitar sporoči vsem pogodbenicam.
2. Priloga, ki ni dodatna priloga za regionalno izvajanje, ali sprememba priloge, ki ni sprememba katere koli priloge za regionalno izvajanje, ki je bila sprejeta v skladu s prvim odstavkom, začne veljati za vse pogodbenice konvencije šest mesecev po tem, ko depozitar take pogodbenice obvesti o sprejetju take priloge ali spremembe, razen za tiste pogodbenice, ki so v tem času depozitarja pisno obvestile o zavrnitvi take priloge ali spremembe. Taka priloga ali sprememba začne veljati za pogodbenice, ki so umaknile svoje obvestilo, devetdeseti dan po tem, ko je depozitar prejel obvestilo o takem umiku.
3. Dodatna priloga za regionalno izvajanje ali sprememba katere koli priloge za regionalno izvajanje, ki je bila sprejeta v skladu s prvim odstavkom, začne veljati za vse pogodbenice konvencije šest mesecev po tem, ko jih je depozitar obvestil o sprejetju take priloge ali spremembe, razen za:
a) vsako pogodbenico, ki je depozitarja v takem šestmesečnem obdobju pisno obvestila o tem, da ne sprejme priloge za regionalno izvajanje ali spremembe te priloge za regionalno izvajanje; v tem primeru taka priloga ali sprememba začne veljati za pogodbenice, ki so umaknile svoje obvestilo, devetdeseti dan po tem, ko je depozitar prejel obvestilo o takem umiku, in
b) vsako pogodbenico, ki je dala izjavo v zvezi z dodatnimi prilogami za regionalno izvajanje ali spremembami prilog za regionalno izvajanje v skladu s četrim odstavkom 34. člena; v tem primeru vsaka taka priloga ali sprememba začne veljati za tako pogodbenico devetdeseti dan po tem, ko je pri depozitarju deponirala svojo listino o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi take priloge ali spremembe ali pristopu k njej.
4. Če sprejem priloge ali spremembe priloge zajema spremembo konvencije, ta priloga ali sprememba priloge ne začne veljati, dokler ne začne veljati sprememba konvencije.
32. člen
PRAVICA DO GLASOVANJA
1. Razen predvidenega v drugem odstavku ima vsaka pogodbenica konvencije en glas.
2. Organizacije za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje za zadeve iz svojih pristojnosti uresničujejo svojo pravico do glasovanja s številom glasov, ki je enako številu njenih držav članic, ki so pogodbenice konvencije. Taka organizacija ne uresničuje svoje pravice do glasovanja, če katera od njenih držav članic uresniči svojo pravico, in obratno.
VI. DEL
KONČNE DOLOČBE
33. člen
PODPIS
Ta konvencija je na voljo za podpis državam članicam Združenih narodov ali kateri koli njeni specializirani agenciji ali pogodbenicam Statuta Meddržavnega sodišča in organizacijam za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje 14. in 15. oktobra 1994 v Parizu. Po tem bo do 13. oktobra 1995 na voljo v podpis na sedežu Združenih narodov v New Yorku.
34. člen
RATIFIKACIJA, SPREJETJE, ODOBRITEV IN PRISTOP
1. Konvencijo ratificirajo, sprejmejo, odobrijo ali k njej pristopijo države in organizacije za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje. K njej se lahko začne pristopati naslednji dan po končanem podpisovanju. Listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi in pristopu se deponirajo pri depozitarju.
2. Vsaka organizacija za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje, ki postane pogodbenica konvencije, če nobena njena država članica ni pogodbenica konvencije, ima vse obveznosti iz konvencije. Kadar je ena ali več držav članic take organizacije tudi pogodbenica konvencije, organizacija in njene države članice določijo svoje ustrezne pristojnosti za izpolnjevanje svojih obveznosti iz konvencije. V takih primerih organizacija in države članice nimajo hkrati pravic iz konvencije.
3. V svojih listinah o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi in pristopu organizacije za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje navedejo obseg svojih pristojnosti za zadeve, ki jih ureja konvencija. O vseh pomembnih spremembah glede obsega svojih pristojnosti takoj tudi obvestijo depozitarja, ki nato o tem obvesti pogodbenice.
4. V svoji listini o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu lahko vsaka pogodbenica navede, da zanjo vsaka dodatna priloga za regionalno izvajanje ali vsaka sprememba katere koli priloge za regionalno izvajanje začne veljati šele po tem, ko je v zvezi z njo deponirala svojo listino o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu.
35. člen
ZAČASNA UREDITEV
Naloge sekretariata, omenjene v 23. členu, bo do konca prvega zasedanja Konference pogodbenic začasno izvajal sekretariat, ki ga je ustanovila Generalna skupščina Združenih narodov v svoji resoluciji 47/188 z dne 22. decembra 1992.
36. člen
ZAČETEK VELJAVNOSTI
1. Konvencija začne veljati devetdeseti dan po deponiranju petdesete listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu.
2. Za vsako državo ali organizacijo za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje, ki ratificira, sprejme, odobri konvencijo ali pristopi k njej po deponiranju petdesete listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu, začne konvencija veljati devetdeseti dan po tem, ko taka država ali organizacija za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje deponira svojo listino o ratifikaciji, sprejetju, odobritvi ali pristopu.
3. Za namene prvega in drugega odstavka se nobena listina, ki jo deponira organizacija za regionalno gospodarsko povezovanje, ne šteje za dodatno listino k tistim, ki jih deponirajo države članice organizacije.
37. člen
PRIDRŽKI
K tej konvenciji pridržki niso dopustni.
38. člen
ODPOVED
1. Kadar koli po preteku treh let od začetka veljavnosti te konvencije za pogodbenico ta pogodbenica lahko odpove konvencijo s pisnim obvestilom depozitarju.
2. Vsaka taka odpoved začne veljati po preteku enega leta od dne, ko je depozitar prejel obvestilo o odpovedi, ali na poznejši dan, ki je lahko določen v obvestilu o odpovedi.
39. člen
DEPOZITAR
Generalni sekretar Združenih narodov je depozitar konvencije.
40. člen
VERODOSTOJNA BESEDILA
Izvirnik, katerega besedila v angleščini, arabščini, francoščini, kitajščini, ruščini in španščini so enako verodostojna, se deponira pri generalnem sekretarju Združenih narodov.
V POTRDITEV TEGA so podpisani, ki so bili za to pravilno pooblaščeni, podpisali to konvencijo.
SESTAVLJENO v Parizu 17. junija tisoč devetsto štiriindevetdeset.
PRILOGA I
PRILOGA ZA REGIONALNO IZVAJANJE V AFRIKI
1. člen
PODROČJE DELOVANJA
Ta priloga se uporablja za Afriko v zvezi z vsako pogodbenico in v skladu s konvencijo, zlasti njenim 7. členom, za boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše na njenih aridnih, semiaridnih in suhih subhumidnih območjih.
2. člen
NAMEN
Namen te priloge je na državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni v Afriki in ob upoštevanju njenih posebnih razmer:
a) opredeliti ukrepe in dogovore, vključno z vrsto in postopki pomoči, ki jih zagotavljajo razvite države pogodbenice v skladu z ustreznimi določbami te konvencije;
b) poskrbeti za učinkovito in dejansko izvajanje konvencije ob upoštevanju razmer, značilnih za Afriko, in
c) spodbujati postopke in dejavnosti, povezane z bojem proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitvijo posledic suše na aridnih, semiaridnih in suhih subhumidnih območjih Afrike.
3. člen
POSEBNE RAZMERE AFRIŠKE REGIJE
Pri izvajanju svojih obveznosti po konvenciji pogodbenice za izvajanje te priloge sprejmejo temeljni pristop, ki upošteva naslednje posebne razmere v Afriki:
a) velik delež aridnih, semiaridnih in suhih subhumidnih območij;
b) precejšnje število držav in prebivalcev, ki sta jih prizadela dezertifikacija in pogosto ponavljanje hude suše;
c) veliko število prizadetih neobalnih držav;
d) močno razširjeno revščino, ki vlada v najbolj prizadetih državah, med katerimi je veliko najmanj razvitih držav, in njihovo potrebo po znatni zunanji pomoči v obliki subvencij in posojil pod ugodnimi pogoji za izvajanje njihovih razvojnih ciljev;
e) težke družbenogospodarske razmere, ki jih zaostrujejo vse slabši in nestalni pogoji blagovne menjave, zunanja zadolženost in politična nestabilnost, kar spodbuja notranje, regionalne in mednarodne selitve;
f) veliko odvisnost prebivalstva od naravnih virov za preživetje, ki skupaj s posledicami demografskih gibanj in dejavnikov, slabo tehnološko podlago in proizvodnimi postopki, ki niso skladni s trajnostnim razvojem, prispeva k resni degradaciji virov;
g) nezadosten institucionalni in pravni okvir, slabo infrastrukturno podlago in nezadostne znanstvene, tehnične in izobraževalne zmogljivosti, katerih posledica so zahteve po znatni gradnji zmogljivosti;
h) osrednjo vlogo ukrepov za boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše med prednostnimi razvojnimi nalogami na državni ravni v prizadetih afriških državah.
4. člen
ZAVEZE IN OBVEZNOSTI AFRIŠKIH DRŽAV POGODBENIC
1. V skladu s svojimi ustreznimi zmogljivostmi se afriške države pogodbenice zavežejo, da bodo:
a) sprejele boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše za osrednjo strategijo v svojih prizadevanjih za izkoreninjenje revščine;
b) spodbujale regionalno sodelovanje in povezovanje v duhu solidarnosti in partnerstva na podlagi vzajemnega interesa v programih in dejavnostih za boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše;
c) racionalizirale in okrepile obstoječe ustanove, ki se ukvarjajo z dezertifikacijo in sušo, ter pritegnile druge obstoječe ustanove, kadar je ustrezno, da povečajo njihovo učinkovitost in zagotovijo učinkovitejšo rabo virov;
d) spodbujale medsebojno izmenjavo informacij o ustrezni tehnologiji, dognanjih, znanju in izkušnjah ter postopkih in
e) razvijale načrte za nujne primere, da bi ublažile posledice suše na območjih, prizadetih zaradi dezertifikacije in/ali suše.
2. V skladu s splošnimi in posebnimi obveznostmi, naštetimi v 4. in 5. členu konvencije, skušajo prizadete afriške države pogodbenice:
a) ustrezno razporediti finančna sredstva iz svojih državnih proračunov v skladu z razmerami in zmožnostmi države, kar kaže, da Afrika prednostno obravnava pojav dezertifikacije in/ali suše;
b) ohranjati in krepiti reforme, ki trenutno potekajo, za večjo decentralizacijo in pravico do virov ter krepiti sodelovanje lokalnega prebivalstva in skupnosti in
c) poiskati ter pritegniti nove in dodatne državne finančne vire ter kot prednostno nalogo razširiti obstoječe sposobnosti in možnosti države za pritegnitev domačih finančnih virov.
5. člen
ZAVEZE IN OBVEZNOSTI RAZVITIH DRŽAV POGODBENIC
1. Pri izpolnjevanju svojih obveznosti iz 4., 6. in 7. člena konvencije razvite države pogodbenice dajejo prednost prizadetim afriškim državam pogodbenicam in jim v zvezi s tem:
a) pomagajo v boju proti dezertifikaciji in/ali pri ublažitvi posledic suše med drugim tako, da jim zagotavljajo finančne in/ali druge vire in/ali omogočajo dostop do njih ter spodbujajo in financirajo prenos, prilagoditev in dostop do ustreznih, okolju prijaznih tehnologij ter znanja in izkušenj in/ali omogočajo njihovo financiranje, kot so se medsebojno dogovorile in v skladu z državnimi usmeritvami ob upoštevanju dejstva, da so izkoreninjenje revščine sprejele za osrednjo strategijo;
b) še naprej namenjajo znatne vire in/ali povečujejo vire za boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše in
c) pomagajo pri krepitvi zmogljivosti, kar jim omogoča izboljšanje njihovih institucionalnih okvirov kot tudi znanstvenih in tehničnih zmožnosti, zbiranja in analiziranja podatkov ter raziskav in razvoja za boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše.
2. Druge države pogodbenice lahko prizadetim afriškim državam pogodbenicam prostovoljno zagotovijo tehnologijo, dognanja ter znanje in izkušnje v zvezi z bojem proti dezertifikaciji in/ali finančne vire. Prenos takšnih dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter tehnologij se omogoči z mednarodnim sodelovanjem.
6. člen
OKVIR STRATEŠKEGA NAČRTOVANJA ZA TRAJNOSTNI RAZVOJ
1. Državni programi ukrepov so osrednji in sestavni del širšega postopka oblikovanja državnih usmeritev za trajnostni razvoj prizadetih afriških držav pogodbenic.
2. Začne se postopek posvetovanja in soodločanja, ki na ustrezni ravni vključuje vlado, lokalno prebivalstvo, skupnosti in nevladne organizacije, za vodenje strategije s prilagodljivim načrtovanjem, ki v največji možni meri omogoča sodelovanje lokalnega prebivalstva in skupnosti. Kadar je ustrezno, se na prošnjo prizadete afriške države pogodbenice v ta postopek lahko vključijo dvostranske ali večstranske agencije za pomoč.
7. člen
ČASOVNI RAZPORED ZA PRIPRAVO PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
Do začetka veljavnosti te konvencije afriške države pogodbenice v sodelovanju z drugimi članicami mednarodne skupnosti, kadar je ustrezno, kolikor je mogoče začasno uporabljajo tiste določbe konvencije, ki se nanašajo na pripravo državnih, subregionalnih in regionalnih programov ukrepov.
8. člen
VSEBINA DRŽAVNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
1. V skladu z 10. členom konvencije so v splošni strategiji državnih programov ukrepov poudarjeni celostni programi za lokalni razvoj na prizadetih območjih, ki temeljijo na mehanizmih soodločanja in na povezovanju strategij za izkoreninjenje revščine v prizadevanjih za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. Programi skušajo okrepiti zmogljivosti lokalnih oblasti in zagotoviti dejavno vključitev lokalnega prebivalstva, skupnosti in skupin s poudarkom na izobraževanju in usposabljanju, pritegnitev nevladnih organizacij s preskušenim strokovnim znanjem ter okrepiti decentralizirane vladne strukture.
2. Državni programi ukrepov, kadar je primerno, vključujejo te splošne značilnosti:
a) upoštevanje preteklih izkušenj iz boja proti dezertifikaciji in/ali za ublažitev posledic suše pri razvoju in izvajanju državnih programov ukrepov ob upoštevanju družbenih, gospodarskih in ekoloških razmer;
b) opredelitev dejavnikov, ki prispevajo k dezertifikaciji in/ali suši, razpoložljivih in potrebnih virov ter zmogljivosti, ustreznih usmeritev ter institucionalnih in drugih odzivov ter ukrepov, potrebnih za boj proti tem pojavom in/ali za ublažitev njihovih posledic, in
c) večje sodelovanje lokalnega prebivalstva in skupnosti, vključno z ženskami, kmeti in pastirji, na katere se prenese večja odgovornost za upravljanje.
3. Državni programi ukrepov zajemajo, kadar je primerno, tudi naslednje:
a) ukrepe za boljše gospodarske razmere z namenom izkoreniniti revščino:
i) povečati prihodke in možnosti za zaposlitev, zlasti za najrevnejše člane skupnosti, z:
– razvijanjem trgov kmetijskih in živinorejskih izdelkov;
– oblikovanjem finančnih instrumentov, primernih za lokalne potrebe;
– spodbujanjem raznolikosti v kmetijstvu in ustanavljanjem kmetijskih podjetij in
– razvijanjem obkmetijskih in nekmetijskih gospodarskih dejavnosti;
ii) izboljšati dolgoročne možnosti za kmetijstvo z oblikovanjem:
– pobud za donosne naložbe in z dostopom do delovnih sredstev in
– cenovno in davčno politiko ter poslovnimi navadami, ki spodbujajo rast;
iii) opredeliti in uporabiti demografsko in migracijsko politiko za zmanjšanje pritiska prebivalstva na zemljo in
iv) spodbujati uporabo pridelkov, ki so odporni proti suši, in uporabljati celostne sisteme kmetovanja na suhih zemljiščih za zagotavljanje hrane;
b) ukrepe za ohranjanje naravnih virov:
i) zagotavljati celostno in trajnostno gospodarjenje z naravnimi viri, ki zajemajo:
– kmetijska zemljišča in pašnike;
– vegetacijo in prosto živeče živali;
– gozdove;
– vodne vire in
– biološko raznovrstnost;
ii) izobraževati javnost in krepiti splošno ozaveščenost ter izvajati okoljevarstvene izobraževalne akcije in razširjati poznavanje metod v zvezi s trajnostnim gospodarjenjem z naravnimi viri in
iii) zagotavljati razvoj in učinkovito rabo različnih virov energije, spodbujati rabo nadomestnih virov energije, zlasti sončne energije, energije vetra in bioplina, ter posebne načrte za prenos, nabavo in prilagoditev ustrezne tehnologije, da se ublaži pritisk na neobnovljive naravne vire;
c) ukrepe za izboljšanje institucionalne organiziranosti:
i) opredeliti vlogo in pristojnosti centralnih vladnih in lokalnih organov v okviru politike načrtovanja namenske rabe prostora;
ii) spodbujati politiko intenzivne decentralizacije, s katero se pristojnost za upravljanje in odločanje prenese na lokalne organe, ter spodbujati lokalne skupnosti k dajanju pobud in prevzemanju odgovornosti ter vzpostavljati lokalne strukture in
iii) prilagoditi, kadar je primerno, institucionalni in normativni okvir za gospodarjenje z naravnimi viri, da se lokalnemu prebivalstvu zagotovi pravica do zemlje;
d) ukrepi za boljše poznavanje dezertifikacije:
i) spodbujati raziskave ter zbiranje, obdelavo in izmenjavo podatkov o znanstvenih, tehničnih in družbenogospodarskih vidikih dezertifikacije;
ii) izboljšati zmogljivosti v državi na področju raziskav in zbiranja, obdelave, izmenjave in analiziranja podatkov za boljše razumevanje in prenesti ugotovitve analiz v prakso in
iii) spodbujati srednjeročno in dolgoročno proučevanje:
– družbenogospodarskih in kulturnih teženj na prizadetih območjih;
– trendov glede kakovosti in količine naravnih virov in
– medsebojnega vpliva podnebja in dezertifikacije in
e) ukrepe za spremljanje in presojo posledic suše:
i) razvijati strategije za vrednotenje vplivov naravne spremenljivosti podnebja na regionalno sušo in dezertifikacijo in/ali upoštevati napovedi glede podnebja po letnih časih in po letih v prizadevanjih za ublažitev posledic suše;
ii) izboljšati zmogljivosti za pravočasno obveščanje in odzivanje, učinkovito usmerjati pomoč v nujnih primerih in pomoč v hrani ter izboljšati sisteme za pripravo zalog hrane in za njeno porazdelitev, programe za varstvo živine in javna dela ter nadomestne načine preživljanja na območjih, dovzetnih za sušo, in
iii) spremljati in presojati ekološko degradacijo za zagotovitev zanesljivega in pravočasnega obveščanja o poteku in hitrosti degradacije virov, da se omogoči boljše oblikovanje politike in odzivov.
9. člen
PRIPRAVA DRŽAVNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV IN NJIHOVO IZVAJANJE TER MERILA VREDNOTENJA
Vsaka prizadeta afriška država pogodbenica imenuje ustrezen državni usklajevalni organ, ki usmerja pripravo, izvajanje in vrednotenje njenega državnega programa ukrepov. Ta usklajevalni organ ob upoštevanju 3. člena, in kadar je primerno:
a) opredeli in pregleda ukrepe, začenši s posvetovalnimi postopki na lokalni ravni, ob vključitvi lokalnega prebivalstva in skupnosti, ob sodelovanju lokalnih upravnih organov, razvitih držav pogodbenic ter medvladnih in nevladnih organizacij na podlagi uvodnih posvetovanj zainteresiranih na državni ravni;
b) opredeli in analizira omejitve, potrebe in vrzeli, ki vplivajo na razvoj in trajnostno rabo zemljišč, in priporoči konkretne ukrepe za preprečitev podvajanja, pri čemer v celoti izkoristi obstoječa prizadevanja in spodbuja upoštevanje dognanj;
c) omogoči, oblikuje in določi projektne dejavnosti, ki temeljijo na interaktivnih, prilagodljivih metodah, da zagotovi dejavno sodelovanje prebivalstva na prizadetih območjih, čim bolj zmanjša škodljiv vpliv takih dejavnosti ter opredeli in določi vrstni red zahtev za finančno pomoč in tehnično sodelovanje;
d) vpelje ustrezna izmerljiva in takoj preverljiva merila, da zagotovi presojo in vrednotenje državnih programov ukrepov, ki vsebujejo kratkoročne, srednjeročne in dolgoročne ukrepe, in izvajanja takšnih programov, in
e) pripravi poročila o napredku pri izvajanju državnih programov ukrepov.
10. člen
ORGANIZACIJSKI OKVIR SUBREGIONALNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
1. V skladu s 4. členom konvencije afriške države pogodbenice sodelujejo pri pripravi in izvajanju subregionalnih programov ukrepov za osrednjo, vzhodno, severno, južno in zahodno Afriko in v zvezi s tem lahko prenesejo na pristojne subregionalne medvladne organizacije te pristojnosti:
a) delujejo kot osrednje točke za pripravljalne dejavnosti in usklajevanje izvajanja subregionalnih programov ukrepov;
b) pomagajo pri pripravi in izvajanju državnih programov ukrepov;
c) pomagajo pri izmenjavi podatkov, izkušenj in znanja ter svetujejo pri pregledu državne zakonodaje in
d) prevzamejo vse druge pristojnosti, povezane z izvajanjem subregionalnih programov ukrepov.
2. Posebne subregionalne ustanove lahko na prošnjo zagotavljajo pomoč in/ali se jim zaupa odgovornost za usklajevanje dejavnosti na njihovih ustreznih področjih pristojnosti.
11. člen
VSEBINA IN PRIPRAVA SUBREGIONALNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
Subregionalni programi ukrepov so osredotočeni na vprašanja, ki se bolje rešujejo na subregionalni ravni. Po potrebi vpeljejo mehanizme za gospodarjenje s skupnimi naravnimi viri. Takšni mehanizmi učinkovito rešujejo čezmejne težave, povezane z dezertifikacijo in/ali sušo, in zagotavljajo podporo za usklajeno izvajanje državnih programov ukrepov. Prednostna področja subregionalnih programov ukrepov so, kadar je primerno, osredotočena na:
a) skupne programe za trajnostno gospodarjenje s čezmejnimi naravnimi viri prek dvostranskih in večstranskih mehanizmov, kadar je primerno;
b) usklajevanje programov za razvoj nadomestnih virov energije;
c) sodelovanje pri obravnavanju in zatiranju škodljivcev ter bolezni rastlin in živali;
d) gradnjo zmogljivosti, izobraževalne dejavnosti in dejavnosti za ozaveščanje javnosti, ki se bolje izvajajo ali podpirajo na subregionalni ravni;
e) znanstveno in tehnično sodelovanje, zlasti na področju klimatologije, meteorologije in hidrologije, vzpostavitev mrež za zbiranje in vrednotenje podatkov, izmenjavo informacij, spremljanje in nadziranje projektov ter usklajevanje in določanje prednostnih raziskovalnih in razvojnih dejavnosti;
f) sisteme za zgodnje opozarjanje in skupno načrtovanje za ublažitev posledic suše, vključno z ukrepi za reševanje težav, ki so posledica selitev zaradi okoljskih dejavnikov;
g) proučevanje načinov za izmenjavo izkušenj, zlasti glede sodelovanja lokalnega prebivalstva in skupnosti, ter ustvarjanje primernih razmer za boljše gospodarjenje z zemljišči in za uporabo ustreznih tehnologij;
h) krepitev zmogljivosti subregionalnih organizacij za usklajevanje in zagotavljanje tehničnih storitev ter za ustanavljanje, preusmeritev in krepitev subregionalnih centrov in ustanov in
i) razvoj usmeritev na področjih, kot je blagovna menjava, ki vplivajo na prizadeta območja in prebivalstvo, vključno z usmeritvami za usklajevanje regionalnih tržnih režimov in skupno infrastrukturo.
12. člen
ORGANIZACIJSKI OKVIR REGIONALNEGA PROGRAMA UKREPOV
1. V skladu z 11. členom konvencije afriške države pogodbenice skupno določijo postopke za pripravo in izvajanje regionalnega programa ukrepov.
2. Pogodbenice lahko zagotovijo ustrezno podporo pristojnim afriškim regionalnim ustanovam in organizacijam in jim tako omogočijo, da afriškim državam pogodbenicam pomagajo pri izpolnjevanju njihovih obveznosti po konvenciji.
13. člen
VSEBINA REGIONALNEGA PROGRAMA UKREPOV
Regionalni program ukrepov zajema ukrepe, ki se nanašajo na boj proti dezertifikaciji in/ali ublažitev posledic suše na teh prednostnih področjih, kadar je primerno:
a) razvoj regionalnega sodelovanja in usklajevanja subregionalnih programov ukrepov za dosego regionalnega soglasja na ključnih področjih politike, vključno z rednimi posvetovanji s subregionalnimi organizacijami;
b) spodbujanje gradnje zmogljivosti za dejavnosti, ki se bolje izvajajo na regionalni ravni;
c) iskanje rešitev skupaj z mednarodno skupnostjo za svetovna gospodarska in družbena vprašanja, ki vplivajo na prizadeta območja, ob upoštevanju pododstavka b) drugega odstavka 4. člena konvencije;
d) spodbujanje izmenjave podatkov in ustreznih tehnologij, strokovnega znanja in ustreznih izkušenj med prizadetimi državami pogodbenicami iz Afrike in njenimi podregijami ter z drugimi prizadetimi regijami; spodbujanje znanstvenega in tehnološkega sodelovanja, zlasti na področju klimatologije, meteorologije, hidrologije, razvoja vodnih virov in nadomestnih virov energije; usklajevanje subregionalnih in regionalnih raziskovalnih dejavnosti in opredeljevanje regionalnih prednostnih raziskovalnih in razvojnih dejavnosti;
e) usklajevanje mrež za sistematično opazovanje in vrednotenje ter izmenjava informacij in njihova vključitev v svetovno mrežo in
f) usklajevanje in krepitev subregionalnih in regionalnih sistemov za zgodnje opozarjanje ter načrtov za morebitno sušo.
14. člen
FINANČNA SREDSTVA
1. V skladu z 20. členom in drugim odstavkom 4. člena konvencije si prizadete afriške države pogodbenice prizadevajo, da zagotovijo makroekonomski okvir za zbiranje finančnih sredstev in razvijajo usmeritve ter uvajajo postopke za učinkovitejše usmerjanje sredstev v lokalne razvojne programe tudi prek nevladnih organizacij, kadar je primerno.
2. V skladu s četrtim in petim odstavkom 21. člena konvencije se pogodbenice sporazumejo, da pripravijo popis virov financiranja na državni, subregionalni, regionalni in mednarodni ravni, da zaradi lažjega izvajanja programov ukrepov zagotovijo racionalno porabo obstoječih sredstev in ugotovijo vrzeli pri njihovem razporejanju. Popis se redno pregleduje in dopolnjuje.
3. V skladu s 7. členom konvencije razvite države pogodbenice še naprej namenjajo znatna in/ali povečana sredstva ter druge oblike pomoči prizadetim afriškim državam pogodbenicam na podlagi sporazumov in dogovorov o partnerstvu, omenjenih v 18. členu, in med drugim v skladu s pododstavkom b) drugega odstavka 4. člena konvencije posvečajo potrebno pozornost vprašanjem, povezanim z zadolženostjo, mednarodno blagovno menjavo in dogovori o trženju.
15. člen
FINANČNI MEHANIZMI
1. V skladu s 7. členom konvencije, ki poudarja prednost prizadetih afriških držav pogodbenic, in ob upoštevanju posebnih razmer, ki vladajo v tej regiji, pogodbenice posebno pozornost namenjajo izvajanju določb pododstavkov d) in e) prvega odstavka 21. člena konvencije v Afriki, zlasti z:
a) omogočanjem uvajanja mehanizmov, kot so državni skladi za boj proti dezertifikaciji, za usmerjanje finančnih sredstev na lokalno raven, in
b) krepitvijo obstoječih skladov in finančnih mehanizmov na subregionalni in regionalni ravni.
2. V skladu z 20. in 21. členom konvencije pogodbenice, ki so tudi članice organov upravljanja ustreznih regionalnih in subregionalnih finančnih ustanov, vključno z Afriško banko za razvoj in Afriškim skladom za razvoj, spodbujajo prizadevanja za to, da se namenita potrebna prednost in pozornost dejavnostim tistih ustanov, ki pospešujejo izvajanje te priloge.
3. Pogodbenice skrbijo za čim učinkovitejše postopke za usmerjanje sredstev prizadetim afriškim državam pogodbenicam.
16. člen
TEHNIČNA POMOČ IN SODELOVANJE
Pogodbenice se v skladu s svojimi zmožnostmi zavezujejo, da bodo racionalizirale tehnično pomoč za afriške države pogodbenice in sodelovanje z njimi, da bi povečale učinkovitost projektov in programov med drugim z:
a) omejevanjem stroškov podpornih ukrepov in zniževanjem zlasti splošnih stroškov; v vsakem primeru morajo takšni stroški pomeniti samo ustrezno nizek odstotek celotnih stroškov projekta, da se tako čim bolj poveča učinkovitost projekta;
b) dajanjem prednosti usposobljenim domačim strokovnjakom ali po potrebi usposobljenim strokovnjakom iz podregije in/ali regije pri oblikovanju, pripravi in izvajanju projektov ter razvoju domačega strokovnega znanja, kjer ga še ni, in
c) učinkovitim upravljanjem in usklajevanjem ter učinkovitim izkoriščanjem tehnične pomoči, ki jo je treba zagotoviti.
17. člen
PRENOS, NABAVA, PRILAGODITEV IN DOSTOP DO OKOLJU PRIJAZNE TEHNOLOGIJE
Pri izvajanju 18. člena konvencije, ki se nanaša na prenos, nabavo, prilagoditev in razvoj tehnologije, se pogodbenice zavezujejo, da bodo dajale prednost afriškim državam pogodbenicam in po potrebi z njimi razvile nove oblike partnerstva in sodelovanja, da bi okrepile gradnjo zmogljivosti na področju znanstvenih raziskav in razvoja ter zbiranja podatkov in njihovega razširjanja, da jim omogočijo izvajanje njihovih strategij za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše.
18. člen
SPORAZUMI O USKLAJEVANJU IN PARTNERSTVU
1. Afriške države pogodbenice usklajujejo pripravo državnih, subregionalnih in regionalnih programih ukrepov in pogajanja o njih ter njihovo izvajanje. V ta postopek lahko, kadar je ustrezno, vključijo druge pogodbenice in pristojne medvladne in nevladne organizacije.
2. Cilji takšnega usklajevanja so zagotavljati skladnost finančnega in tehničnega sodelovanja s konvencijo in potrebno nepretrgano rabo in upravljanje virov.
3. Afriške države pogodbenice organizirajo posvetovalne postopke na državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni. Ti posvetovalni postopki:
a) so lahko okvir za pogajanja in sklepanje sporazumov o partnerstvu, ki temeljijo na državnih, subregionalnih in regionalnih programih ukrepov, in
b) lahko določijo prispevek afriških držav pogodbenic in drugih članic posvetovalnih skupin k programom, opredelijo prednostne naloge ter sporazume o izvajanju, merila vrednotenja ter dogovore o financiranju izvajanja.
4. Stalni sekretariat lahko na prošnjo afriških držav pogodbenic v skladu s 23. členom konvencije omogoči takšne posvetovalne postopke:
a) s svetovanjem pri organiziranju učinkovitih posvetovalnih dogovorov ob upoštevanju izkušenj iz drugih takšnih dogovorov;
b) z zagotavljanjem informacij pristojnim dvostranskim in večstranskim agencijam v zvezi s posvetovalnimi sestanki ali postopki ter spodbujanjem njihovega dejavnega sodelovanja in
c) z zagotavljanjem drugih informacij, ki so lahko pomembne pri sklepanju ali izboljšanju posvetovalnih dogovorov.
5. Subregionalni in regionalni usklajevalni organi med drugim:
a) priporočajo ustrezne prilagoditve sporazumov o partnerstvu;
b) spremljajo izvajanje dogovorjenih subregionalnih in regionalnih programov, ga vrednotijo in o njem poročajo;
c) si prizadevajo za zagotavljanje učinkovitih stikov in sodelovanja med afriškimi državami pogodbenicami.
6. V posvetovalnih skupinah lahko, kadar je primerno, sodelujejo vlada, zainteresirane skupine in donatorji, pristojni organi, skladi in programi sistema Združenih narodov, pristojne subregionalne in regionalne organizacije ter predstavniki ustreznih nevladnih organizacij. Sodelujoči v vsaki posvetovalni skupini določijo pogoje in načine za njeno vodenje in delovanje.
7. V skladu s 14. členom konvencije se razvite države pogodbenice spodbujajo, da na svojo pobudo razvijajo neformalen postopek medsebojnega posvetovanja in usklajevanja na državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni ter da na prošnjo prizadete afriške države pogodbenice ali pristojne subregionalne ali regionalne organizacije sodelujejo v državnem, subregionalnem in regionalnem posvetovalnem postopku, v katerem naj bi ocenili potrebe po pomoči in se odzvali nanje, da se tako omogoči izvajanje.
19. člen
DOGOVORI ZA SPREMLJANJE IZVAJANJA
Izvajanje te priloge spremljajo afriške države pogodbenice v skladu s konvencijo na naslednji način:
a) na državni ravni z mehanizmom, katerega sestavo bi morala določiti vsaka posamezna prizadeta afriška država pogodbenica in ki vključuje predstavnike lokalnih skupnosti ter deluje pod nadzorom državnega usklajevalnega organa, omenjenega v 9. členu;
b) na subregionalni ravni z multidisciplinarnim znanstvenim in tehničnim posvetovalnim odborom, katerega sestavo ter pogoje in načine delovanja določijo afriške države pogodbenice določene podregije, in
c) na regionalni ravni z mehanizmi, določenimi v skladu z ustreznimi določbami Pogodbe o ustanovitvi Afriške gospodarske skupnosti, in z Afriškim znanstvenim in tehničnim svetovalnim odborom.
PRILOGA II
PRILOGA ZA REGIONALNO IZVAJANJE V AZIJI
1. člen
NAMEN
Namen te priloge je zagotoviti smernice in dogovore za učinkovito izvajanje konvencije v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah iz azijske regije ob upoštevanju njenih posebnih razmer.
2. člen
POSEBNE RAZMERE AZIJSKE REGIJE
Pri izvajanju svojih obveznosti iz konvencije pogodbenice, kadar je primerno, upoštevajo naslednje posebne razmere, ki so v različnem obsegu v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah iz te regije:
a) velik delež območij na njihovih ozemljih, ki sta jih prizadeli dezertifikacija in suša ali pa so za to dovzetna, in veliko raznolikost teh območjih glede podnebja, topografije, rabe tal in družbenogospodarskih sistemov;
b) velik pritisk na naravne vire za preživetje;
c) obstoj proizvodnih sistemov, neposredno povezanih s široko razširjeno revščino, ki vodijo k degradaciji zemljišč in pritisku na redke vodne vire;
d) velik vpliv razmer v svetovnem gospodarstvu in družbena vprašanja, kot so revščina, slabe zdravstvene in prehranjevalne razmere, pomanjkanje hrane, selitve, razseljene osebe in demografska gibanja;
e) čedalje večje, vendar še vedno nezadostne zmožnosti in institucionalne okvire za reševanje vprašanj v zvezi z bojem proti dezertifikaciji in sušo v teh državah in
f) njihovo potrebo po mednarodnem sodelovanju pri izvajanju ciljev trajnostnega razvoja, povezanih z bojem proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitvijo posledic suše.
3. člen
OKVIR ZA DRŽAVNE PROGRAME UKREPOV
1. Državni programi ukrepov so sestavni del širših državnih usmeritev za trajnostni razvoj prizadetih držav pogodbenic iz regije.
2. Prizadete države pogodbenice, kadar je primerno, razvijajo državne programe ukrepov v skladu s členi 9 do 11 konvencije in pri tem namenjajo posebno pozornost pododstavku f) drugega odstavka 10. člena. Kadar je primerno, se v ta postopek na zahtevo prizadete države pogodbenice lahko vključijo agencije za dvostransko in večstransko sodelovanje.
4. člen
DRŽAVNI PROGRAMI UKREPOV
1. Pri pripravi in izvajanju državnih programov ukrepov lahko prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije v skladu s svojimi razmerami in usmeritvami, kadar je primerno, med drugim:
a) določijo ustrezne organe, odgovorne za pripravo, usklajevanje in izvajanje njihovih programov ukrepov;
b) vključijo prizadeto prebivalstvo, vključno z lokalnimi skupnostmi, v izdelavo, usklajevanje in izvajanje svojih programov ukrepov prek posvetovalnega postopka na lokalni ravni s sodelovanjem lokalnih oblasti ter pristojnih državnih in nevladnih organizacij;
c) proučijo stanje okolja na prizadetih območjih, da ocenijo vzroke in posledice dezertifikacije in določijo prednostna področja za ukrepanje;
d) v sodelovanju s prizadetim prebivalstvom ovrednotijo pretekle in tekoče programe za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše, da tako oblikujejo strategijo in podrobno določijo dejavnosti v svojih programih ukrepov;
e) pripravijo tehnične in finančne programe, ki temeljijo na podatkih, pridobljenih iz dejavnosti iz pododstavkov a) do d);
f) razvijajo in uporabljajo postopke in merila primerjave za ovrednotenje izvajanja svojih programov ukrepov;
g) spodbujajo celostno gospodarjenje s povodji, ohranjanje tal kot naravnega vira ter povečanje vodnih virov in njihovo učinkovito rabo;
h) krepijo in/ali vzpostavljajo sisteme obveščanja, vrednotenja in spremljanja ter zgodnjega opozarjanja na območjih, dovzetnih za dezertifikacijo in sušo, ob upoštevanju klimatoloških, meteoroloških, hidroloških, bioloških in drugih ustreznih dejavnikov in
i) pri mednarodnem sodelovanju, ki vključuje finančne in tehnične vire, v duhu partnerstva oblikujejo ustrezne dogovore v podporo svojim programom ukrepov.
2. V skladu z 10. členom konvencije so v splošni strategiji državnih programov ukrepov poudarjeni celostni programi za lokalni razvoj na prizadetih območjih, ki temeljijo na mehanizmih soodločanja in na vključevanju strategij za izkoreninjenje revščine v prizadevanju za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše. Sektorski ukrepi v programih ukrepov se razporedijo v prednostna področja ob upoštevanju velike raznolikosti prizadetih območij regije, omenjenih v pododstavku a) 2. člena.
5. člen
SUBREGIONALNI IN SKUPNI PROGRAMI UKREPOV
1. V skladu z 11. členom konvencije se lahko prizadete države pogodbenice iz Azije medsebojno sporazumejo, da se bodo, kadar je primerno, posvetovale in sodelovale z drugimi pogodbenicami pri pripravi in izvajanju subregionalnih ali skupnih programov ukrepov, kadar je primerno, da tako dopolnijo državne programe ukrepov in povečajo učinkovitost njihovega izvajanja. V obeh primerih se lahko te pogodbenice skupno sporazumejo, da subregionalnim, vključno z dvostranskimi ali državnimi organizacijami, ali specializiranim ustanovam zaupajo pristojnosti, povezane s pripravo, usklajevanjem in izvajanjem programov. Takšne organizacije ali ustanove lahko delujejo tudi kot osrednje točke za spodbujanje in usklajevanje ukrepov v skladu s členi 16 do 18 konvencije.
2. Pri pripravi in izvajanju subregionalnih ali skupnih programov ukrepov prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije, kadar je primerno, med drugim:
a) v sodelovanju z državnimi ustanovami določijo prednostne naloge, povezane z bojem proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitvijo posledic suše, ki se uspešneje izvajajo s takšnimi programi, ter ustrezne dejavnosti, ki bi se lahko učinkovito izvedle prek njih;
b) ovrednotijo operativne zmogljivosti in dejavnosti pristojnih regionalnih, subregionalnih in državnih ustanov;
c) ocenijo obstoječe programe v zvezi z dezertifikacijo in sušo, ki so skupni vsem ali nekaterim pogodbenicam regije ali subregije, ter njihov odnos do državnih programov ukrepov in
d) pri mednarodnem sodelovanju, ki vključuje finančne in tehnične vire, v duhu partnerstva oblikujejo ustrezne dvostranske in/ali večstranske dogovore v podporo svojim programom ukrepov.
3. Subregionalni ali skupni programi ukrepov lahko vključujejo dogovorjene skupne programe za trajnostno gospodarjenje s čezmejnimi naravnimi viri, povezane z dezertifikacijo, prednostne naloge za usklajevanje in druge dejavnosti na področju gradnje zmogljivosti, znanstvenega in tehnološkega sodelovanja, zlasti sistemov zgodnjega opozarjanja na sušo, in izmenjavo informacij ter načine za krepitev pristojnih subregionalnih in drugih organizacij ali ustanov.
6. člen
REGIONALNE DEJAVNOSTI
Regionalne dejavnosti za izboljšanje subregionalnih ali skupnih programov ukrepov lahko med drugim vključujejo ukrepe za krepitev ustanov in mehanizmov za usklajevanje in sodelovanje na državni, subregionalni in regionalni ravni in za pospešitev izvajanja členov 16 do 19 konvencije. Te dejavnosti lahko vključujejo tudi:
a) pospeševanje in krepitev mrež za tehnično sodelovanje;
b) pripravo popisov tehnologij, dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov kakor tudi tradicionalnih in lokalnih tehnologij, znanja in izkušenj ter spodbujanje njihovega razširjanja in uporabe;
c) vrednotenje zahtev za prenos tehnologij ter spodbujanje prilagajanja in uporabe takšnih tehnologij in
d) spodbujanje programov za ozaveščanje javnosti in pospeševanje gradnje zmogljivosti na vseh ravneh, krepitev usposabljanja, raziskav in razvoja ter sistemov za razvoj človeških virov.
7. člen
FINANČNA SREDSTVA IN MEHANIZMI
1. Pogodbenice ob upoštevanju pomembnosti boja proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitve posledic suše v azijski regiji v skladu z 20. in 21. členom konvencije spodbujajo zbiranje znatnih finančnih sredstev ter razpoložljivost finančnih mehanizmov.
2. V skladu s konvencijo in na podlagi usklajevalnega mehanizma, predvidenega v 8. členu, in v skladu s svojimi državnimi razvojnimi usmeritvami prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije posamezno ali skupno:
a) sprejemajo ukrepe za racionalizacijo in krepitev mehanizmov za zagotavljanje finančnih sredstev s pomočjo javnih in zasebnih naložb z namenom doseči določene rezultate v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše;
b) opredeljujejo zahteve za mednarodno sodelovanje v podporo državnim prizadevanjem, zlasti finančno, tehnično in tehnološko, in
c) spodbujajo udeležbo finančnih ustanov za dvostransko in/ali večstransko sodelovanje z namenom zagotavljati izvajanje konvencije.
3. Pogodbenice, kolikor je mogoče, racionalizirajo postopke za usmerjanje finančnih sredstev prizadetim državam pogodbenicam iz regije.
8. člen
MEHANIZMI ZA SODELOVANJE IN USKLAJEVANJE
1. Prizadete države pogodbenice prek ustreznih organov, določenih v skladu s pododstavkom a) prvega odstavka 4. člena, in druge pogodbenice iz regije lahko, kadar je primerno, vzpostavijo mehanizem, katerega namen je med drugim:
a) izmenjava informacij, izkušenj, dognanj in znanja;
b) sodelovanje in usklajevanje ukrepov, vključno z dvostranskimi in večstranskimi dogovori, na subregionalni in regionalni ravni;
c) spodbujanje znanstvenega, tehničnega, tehnološkega in finančnega sodelovanja v skladu s členi 5 do 7;
d) opredelitev zahtev za zunanje sodelovanje in
e) spremljanje in vrednotenje izvajanja programov ukrepov.
2. Prizadete države pogodbenice prek ustreznih organov, določenih v skladu s pododstavkom a) prvega odstavka 4. člena, in druge pogodbenice iz regije se lahko tudi, kadar je primerno, medsebojno posvetujejo glede državnih, subregionalnih in skupnih programov ukrepov in jih usklajujejo. V ta postopek lahko, kadar je primerno, vključijo druge pogodbenice in pristojne medvladne in nevladne organizacije. Cilj takega usklajevanja je med drugim doseči sporazum o možnosti za mednarodno sodelovanje v skladu z 20. in 21. členom konvencije, spodbuditi tehnično sodelovanje in usmeriti vire tako, da se porabijo učinkovito.
3. Prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije imajo redne usklajevalne sestanke, Stalni sekretariat pa lahko na njihovo prošnjo v skladu s 23. členom konvencije omogoči sklic takšnih usklajevalnih sestankov:
a) s svetovanjem pri organiziranju učinkovitih usklajevalnih dogovorov ob upoštevanju izkušenj drugih takšnih dogovorov;
b) z zagotavljanjem informacij pristojnim dvostranskim in večstranskim agencijam v zvezi z usklajevalnimi sestanki ter spodbujanjem njihovega dejavnega sodelovanja in
c) z zagotavljanjem drugih informacij, ki so lahko pomembne pri uvajanju ali izboljšanju usklajevalnih dogovorov.
PRILOGA III
PRILOGA ZA REGIONALNO IZVAJANJE V LATINSKI AMERIKI IN NA KARIBIH
1. člen
NAMEN
Namen te priloge je zagotoviti splošne smernice za izvajanje konvencije v latinskoameriški in karibski regiji ob upoštevanju njenih posebnih razmer.
2. člen
POSEBNE RAZMERE LATINSKOAMERIŠKE IN KARIBSKE REGIJE
Pogodbenice v skladu z določbami konvencije upoštevajo naslednje posebne razmere te regije:
a) njeno veliko prostranstvo, nagnjeno k dezertifikaciji in/ali suši, in ki sta jih ta dva pojava že močno prizadela, na katerih se lahko odvisno od območja, kjer se pojavljata, opazijo raznolike značilnosti; ta kumulativen in vse intenzivnejši proces ima negativne družbene, kulturne, gospodarske in okoljske posledice, ki so toliko resnejše zaradi tega, ker je regija eden največjih virov biološke raznovrstnosti na svetu;
b) pogosto prakso, ki ni skladna s trajnostnim razvojem, na prizadetih območjih zaradi zapletenega medsebojnega delovanja fizikalnih, bioloških, političnih, družbenih, kulturnih in gospodarskih dejavnikov, vključno z mednarodnimi gospodarskimi dejavniki, kot so zunanja zadolženost, vse slabši pogoji blagovne menjave in trgovinskega poslovanja, ki vplivajo na trge kmetijskih, ribiških in gozdarskih izdelkov, in
c) veliko zmanjšanje produktivnosti ekosistemov, ki je glavna posledica dezertifikacije in suše in se kaže v znižanju donosa v kmetijstvu, živinoreji in gozdarstvu ter v izgubi biološke raznovrstnosti; z družbenega vidika so posledice širjenje revščine, selitve, notranji premiki prebivalstva ter poslabšanje kakovosti življenja; regija bo zato morala sprejeti celosten pristop k reševanju težav, povezanih z dezertifikacijo in sušo, s spodbujanjem tistih modelov trajnostnega razvoja, ki so v skladu z okoljskim, gospodarskim in družbenim položaj v vsaki državi.
3. člen
PROGRAMI UKREPOV
1. V skladu s konvencijo, zlasti njenimi členi 9 do 11, in v skladu s svojimi državnimi razvojnimi usmeritvami prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije, kadar je primerno, pripravijo in izvajajo državne programe ukrepov za boj proti dezertifikaciji in ublažitev posledic suše kot sestavni del svojih državnih usmeritev za trajnostni razvoj. Subregionalni in regionalni programi se lahko pripravijo in izvajajo v skladu z zahtevami regije.
2. Pri pripravi svojih državnih programov ukrepov prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije namenijo posebno pozornost pododstavku f) drugega odstavka 10. člena konvencije.
4. člen
VSEBINA DRŽAVNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
Ob upoštevanju svojih ustreznih razmer lahko prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije pri razvoju svojih državnih strategij za ukrepanje v boju proti dezertifikaciji in/ali za ublažitev posledic suše v skladu s 5. členom konvencije med drugim upoštevajo naslednja tematska vprašanja:
a) povečanje zmogljivosti, izobraževanje in ozaveščanje javnosti, tehnično, znanstveno in tehnološko sodelovanje ter finančna sredstva in mehanizmi;
b) izkoreninjenje revščine in izboljšanje kakovosti življenja;
c) zagotavljanje hrane in trajnostni razvoj ter vodenje kmetijskih, živinorejskih, gozdarskih in večnamenskih dejavnosti;
d) trajnostno gospodarjenje z naravnimi viri, zlasti racionalno gospodarjenje s povodji;
e) trajnostno gospodarjenje z naravnimi viri na visoko ležečih območjih;
f) racionalno gospodarjenje s tlemi kot naravnim virom in njihovo ohranjanje ter izkoriščanje in učinkovita raba vodnih virov;
g) oblikovanje in uporaba načrtov za ublažitev posledic suše v izrednih razmerah;
h) krepitev in/ali vzpostavitev sistemov obveščanja, vrednotenja in spremljanja ter zgodnjega opozarjanja na območjih, dovzetnih za dezertifikacijo in sušo, ob upoštevanju klimatoloških, meteoroloških, hidroloških, bioloških, talnih, gospodarskih in družbenih dejavnikov;
i) razvoj in učinkovita raba različnih virov energije, vključno s spodbujanjem rabe nadomestnih virov in gospodarjenje z njimi;
j) ohranjanje in trajnostna raba biološke raznovrstnosti v skladu z določbami Konvencije o biološki raznovrstnosti;
k) upoštevanje demografskih vidikov, povezanih z dezertifikacijo in sušo, in
l) uvajanje ali krepitev institucionalnega in pravnega okvira, ki omogoča uporabo konvencije in katerega namen je med drugim decentraliziranje upravnih struktur in nalog, povezanih z dezertifikacijo in sušo, ob sodelovanju prizadetih skupnosti in družbe na splošno.
5. člen
TEHNIČNO, ZNANSTVENO IN TEHNOLOŠKO SODELOVANJE
V skladu s konvencijo, zlasti njenimi členi 16 do 18, in na podlagi usklajevalnega mehanizma, predvidenega v 7. členu, prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije posamezno ali skupno:
a) spodbujajo krepitev mrež za tehnično sodelovanje ter državnih, subregionalnih in regionalnih sistemov obveščanja kakor tudi njihovo vključevanje v svetovne vire podatkov, kadar je primerno;
b) pripravijo popis razpoložljivih tehnologij ter znanja in izkušenj ter spodbujajo njihovo razširjanje in uporabo;
c) spodbujajo uporabo tradicionalne tehnologije, dognanj, znanja in izkušenj ter postopkov v skladu s pododstavkom b) drugega odstavka 18. člena konvencije;
d) opredeljujejo zahteve po prenosu tehnologij in
e) spodbujajo razvoj, prilagoditev, sprejem in prenos ustreznih obstoječih in novih, okolju prijaznih tehnologij.
6. člen
FINANČNA SREDSTVA IN MEHANIZMI
V skladu s konvencijo, zlasti njenim 20. in 21. členom, na podlagi usklajevalnega mehanizma, predvidenega v 7. členu, in v skladu s svojimi državnimi razvojnimi usmeritvami prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije posamezno ali skupno:
a) sprejemajo ukrepe za racionalizacijo in krepitev mehanizmov za zagotavljanje finančnih sredstev s pomočjo javnih in zasebnih naložb z namenom doseči določene rezultate v boju proti dezertifikaciji in za ublažitev posledic suše;
b) opredeljujejo zahteve za mednarodno sodelovanje v podporo državnim prizadevanjem in
c) spodbujajo udeležbo finančnih ustanov za dvostransko in/ali večstransko sodelovanje z namenom zagotavljati izvajanje konvencije.
7. člen
INSTITUCIONALNI OKVIR
1. Za uveljavitev te priloge prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije:
a) ustanovijo in/ali krepijo osrednje točke v državi za usklajevanje ukrepov v boju proti dezertifikaciji in/ali za ublažitev posledic suše in
b) vzpostavijo mehanizem za usklajevanje osrednjih točk v državi:
i) izmenjavo informacij in izkušenj;
ii) usklajevanje dejavnosti na subregionalni in regionalni ravni;
iii) spodbujanje tehničnega, znanstvenega, tehnološkega in finančnega sodelovanja;
iv) opredelitev zahtev za zunanje sodelovanje in
v) spremljanje in vrednotenje izvajanja programov ukrepov.
2. Prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije imajo redne usklajevalne sestanke. Stalni sekretariat lahko na njihovo prošnjo v skladu s 23. členom konvencije omogoči sklic takšnih usklajevalnih sestankov:
a) s svetovanjem pri organiziranju učinkovitih usklajevalnih dogovorov ob upoštevanju izkušenj iz drugih takšnih dogovorov;
b) z zagotavljanjem informacij pristojnim dvostranskim in večstranskim agencijam v zvezi z usklajevalnimi sestanki ter spodbujanjem njihovega dejavnega sodelovanja in
c) z zagotavljanjem drugih informacij, ki so lahko pomembne pri uvajanju ali izboljšanju usklajevalnih dogovorov.
PRILOGA IV
PRILOGA ZA REGIONALNO IZVAJANJE V SEVERNEM SREDOZEMLJU
1. člen
NAMEN
Namen te priloge je zagotoviti smernice in dogovore, potrebne za učinkovito izvajanje konvencije v prizadetih državah pogodbenicah iz severnosredozemske regije ob upoštevanju njenih posebnih razmer.
2. člen
POSEBNE RAZMERE SEVERNOSREDOZEMSKE REGIJE
Posebne razmere severnosredozemske regije, omenjene v 1. členu, vključujejo:
a) semiaridne podnebne razmere, ki so na velikih območjih, sezonske suše, zelo veliko spremenljivost padavin ter nenadne in zelo intenzivne padavine;
b) nerodovitna tla, nagnjena k eroziji, ki na površini oblikujejo skorjo;
c) neraven relief s strmimi pobočji in zelo raznoliko pokrajino;
d) veliko zmanjšanje poraščenosti z gozdovi zaradi pogostih požarov;
e) krizne razmere v tradicionalnem kmetijstvu, povezane z opuščanjem zemljišč in poslabšanjem struktur za ohranjanje tal in vode;
f) izkoriščanje vodnih virov, ki ni skladno s trajnostno rabo, kar povzroča veliko škodo okolju, vključno s kemičnim onesnaževanjem, salinizacijo in izkoriščanjem vodnih virov, in
g) osredotočanje gospodarske dejavnosti na obalna območja zaradi urbanizacije, industrijske dejavnosti, turizma in namakalnega poljedelstva.
3. člen
OKVIR ZA STRATEŠKO NAČRTOVANJE TRAJNOSTNEGA RAZVOJA
1. Državni programi ukrepov so osrednji in sestavni del okvira za strateško načrtovanje trajnostnega razvoja prizadetih držav pogodbenic iz severnega Sredozemlja.
2. Začne se postopek posvetovanja in in soodločanja, ki na ustrezni ravni vključuje vlado, lokalne skupnosti in nevladne organizacije za vodenje strategije s prilagodljivim načrtovanjem, ki v največji možni meri omogoča lokalno sodelovanje v skladu s pododstavkom f) drugega odstavka 10. člena konvencije.
4. člen
OBVEZNOST PRIPRAVE DRŽAVNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV IN ČASOVNI RAZPORED
Prizadete države pogodbenice iz severnosredozemske regije pripravijo državne programe ukrepov, in kadar je primerno, subregionalne, regionalne ali skupne programe ukrepov. Takšni programi se pripravijo čim hitreje.
5. člen
PRIPRAVA IN IZVAJANJE DRŽAVNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
Pri pripravi in izvajanju državnih programov ukrepov v skladu z 9. in 10. členom konvencije, kadar je primerno, vsaka prizadeta država pogodbenica iz regije:
a) določi ustrezne organe, odgovorne za pripravo, usklajevanje in izvajanje njenega programa;
b) vključi prizadeto prebivalstvo, vključno z lokalnimi skupnostmi, v izdelavo, usklajevanje in izvajanje programa prek posvetovalnega postopka na lokalni ravni ob sodelovanju lokalnih oblasti in pristojnih nevladnih organizacij;
c) prouči stanje okolja na prizadetih območij, da oceni vzroke in posledice dezertifikacije in določi prednostna področja za ukrepanje;
d) v sodelovanju s prizadetim prebivalstvom ovrednoti pretekle in tekoče programe, da oblikuje strategijo in podrobno določi dejavnosti v programu ukrepov;
e) pripravi tehnične in finančne programe, ki temeljijo na podatkih, pridobljenih iz dejavnosti iz pododstavkov a) do d), in
f) razvija in uporablja postopke in merila primerjave za spremljanje in ovrednotenje izvajanja programa.
6. člen
VSEBINA DRŽAVNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
Prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije lahko v svoje državne programe ukrepov vključijo ukrepe, ki se nanašajo na:
a) zakonodajna, institucionalna in upravna področja;
b) načine rabe tal, gospodarjenje z vodnimi viri, ohranjanje tal, gozdarstvo, kmetijske dejavnosti ter gospodarjenje s pašniki;
c) gospodarjenje s prosto živečimi živalmi in njihovo ohranjanje ter druge oblike biološke raznovrstnosti;
d) varovanje pred gozdnimi požari;
e) spodbujanje nadomestnih načinov preživljanja in
f) raziskave, usposabljanje in ozaveščanje javnosti.
7. člen
SUBREGIONALNI, REGIONALNI IN SKUPNI PROGRAMI UKREPOV
1. Prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije lahko v skladu z 11. členom konvencije pripravijo in izvajajo subregionalne in/ali regionalne programe ukrepov, da dopolnijo in povečajo učinkovitost državnih programov ukrepov. Podobno se lahko dve ali več prizadetih držav pogodbenic iz regije dogovorijo, da pripravijo skupni program ukrepov.
2. Določbe 5. in 6. člena se smiselno uporabljajo za pripravo in izvajanje subregionalnih, regionalnih in skupnih programov ukrepov. Poleg tega lahko taki programi vključujejo raziskovalne in razvojne dejavnosti, povezane z izbranimi ekosistemi na prizadetih območjih.
3. Pri pripravi in izvajanju subregionalnih, regionalnih ali skupnih programov ukrepov, kadar je primerno, prizadete države pogodbenice iz regije:
a) v sodelovanju z državnimi ustanovami določijo državne cilje v zvezi z dezertifikacijo, ki se uspešneje izvajajo s takimi programi, ter ustrezne dejavnosti, ki bi se lahko učinkovito izvedle prek njih;
b) ovrednotijo operativne zmogljivosti in dejavnosti pristojnih regionalnih, subregionalnih in državnih ustanov in
c) ocenijo obstoječe programe, povezane z dezertifikacijo v pogodbenicah regije, ter njihov odnos do državnih programov ukrepov.
8. člen
USKLAJEVANJE SUBREGIONALNIH, REGIONALNIH IN SKUPNIH PROGRAMOV UKREPOV
Prizadete države pogodbenice, ki pripravljajo subregionalne, regionalne ali skupne programe ukrepov, lahko ustanovijo usklajevalni odbor, ki ga sestavljajo predstavniki posameznih prizadetih držav pogodbenic, da pregleda napredek v boju proti dezertifikaciji, uskladi državne programe ukrepov, pripravi priporočila v različnih fazah priprave in izvajanja subregionalnih, regionalnih ali skupnih programov ukrepov ter deluje kot osrednja točka za spodbujanje in usklajevanje tehničnega sodelovanja v skladu s členi 16 do 19 konvencije.
9. člen
NEUPRAVIČENOST DO FINANČNE POMOČI
Pri izvajanju državnih, subregionalnih, regionalnih in skupnih programov ukrepov prizadete razvite države pogodbenice iz regije niso upravičene do prejemanja finančne pomoči iz te konvencije.
10. člen
USKLAJEVANJE Z DRUGIMI SUBREGIJAMI IN REGIJAMI
Subregionalni, regionalni in skupni programi ukrepov v severnosredozemski regiji se lahko pripravijo in izvajajo skupaj s programi drugih subregij ali regij, zlasti s programi subregije severne Afrike.
3. člen
Za izvajanje konvencije skrbita Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor in Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo in prehrano Republike Slovenije.
4. člen
Ta zakon začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije – Mednarodne pogodbe.
Št. 801-01/01-8/1
Ljubljana, dne 24. maja 2001
Predsednik
Državnega zbora
Republike Slovenije
Borut Pahor l. r.
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